|
|
stevetuba.co.uk
Days in the life of a Curmudgeon...2007.
Velence...July 13th 2007. Free again! The beginning of Phase VIII. Ernesto playing in the background...ok... loud! Ernesto Lecouna ...ahhhhhh. It was my theme music back in ‘94...when I went on a supposedly 6-month sabbatical that has lasted up to this day. I would play the same five or six tracks repeatedly while I read in the early morning. It meant...new...a new beginning...an end. It feels good. To my left is a view of the lake. Velence, HU Land. All I need now is a proper drink. Lots to say. Rod Stewart...now...Setting things up...Seals and Croft...Summer Breeze. Wish I could have brought that bottle of Kahlua back from UK Land...it would go good right now. Should take a buzz up the street and see what they have...Simon & Garfunkle...Homeward Bound...Late In The Evening...I thought the video was good too. Now...Tino Rossi...J’Attendrai...as I skim Shaw’s Pygmalion...which I’d tossed it in with other important papers...and am now sorting through. By Sunday, I should be settled into my new digs. Re-read an old email from Larry Johnston...an acquaintance from my photography days...wherein he asks what will happen to my web pages once I stop paying for the website...as in...they...“the stories should be preserved...forever”. Thanks dude...made my day! Oh...there is one more “Photography Years” page “in the can”. I will look and see if it is truly ready to publish. Right now, I have a few higher priorities...hopefully not for long. In addition, I need to get my head screwed on again. It’s only been a few weeks that I was here...for 53 days...and took more than a few thousand frames...twice that many! This time I have the Nikon 300 2 8...it’s heavier than I had remembered...or I’m weaker. Springsteen...Dancing In The Dark... Velence...July 15th 2007. New digs day plus one. First night here. It’s bloody hot. Temps in the low 30s. I was on the lakeshore at 0515hrs. The sun was just coming up. Two hours later Bela was not on the lake yet. I did see him from the house about 10 minutes later...and took a few frames. He had said yesterday that he would get in a little fishing today...and I was hoping to get some close shots of him...but had to settle for long shots...with the D70. The D200 was inop while I pulled the mornings shots onto the computer. Yesterday evening I showed Cila and Anci Jupiter and its moons using the 11x80 binoculars. Today I plan to bring over the 1200mm telescope for a real view. The house is a disaster area littered with my stuff. I have some work to do getting it all straightened out. Later in the day: I am listening to music I had heard over 55 years ago...originally as 78s. The music brings to mind a simpler...innocent time. To be back where my life started...and trying to imagine what life was like here is a bittersweet experience filled with emotional highs and lows. With both parents now dead...I have only the remembrances of relatives. Some of the locations are as they were 90 years ago. The post office building where my mother worked in is still standing...though in disrepair. The house my father was born in is still there. In fact, the house I am in is on the same lot. Just finished McNab’s "Remote Control". I had bought a bunch of books at the local thrift shop at the Triangle (Berrylands UK) so I would not run out of English reading material...which I’d forgotten to do the last time I was here. Three down...four to go. Heller’s "Catch-22"...Simon Winchester’s "The Map That Changed The World"...Stephen Jay Gould’s "Wonderful Life"...and Bernard Cornwell’s the "Grail Quest. Gads"...I am going to run out of books! BC also wrote the Sharpe series...which I‘ve read when I have found them. On the other hand...all my books are here...so some rereads are in the future I think. My friend Greg (Everett, WA, USA) will laugh when he reads that I am spending some time bicycling back and forth as my mode of quick transport. I bring it up because sometime soon I will need to go to Anci’s and arrange for transport of the telescope and an electric fan. It was excessively hot last night...should have thought of it before. Velence...July 17th 2007. Just setup the laser printer...working. Paper face down. I went to the lakeshore this morning...a few shots...nothing to write home about. It’s a 4-minute walk. Took the Nikon 300 2 8...on the big Slik...heavy! It is going to be another hot day...maybe 40C plus! Went grocery shopping yesterday with Jutka. Spent 27,935 Forint. That’s $151. Velence...July 18th 2007. Well...it’s another scorching day in HU Land. Could reach 40C! It’s 8 degrees cooler in the house...but I think my AC unit could increase that a bit...just don’t know where to vent it. Yesterday I printed a few A3 prints. Not bad. Pityu showed up while I was out in the street shooting the Moon and Venus. Talk awhile arguing the merits of daylight savings...he, taking the side against...and looked at Jupiter through the binoculars. Velence...July 20th 2007. Yesterday cousin Jutka called and came over with food. Later I asked if she was up for a trip to cousin Anci’s to pick up my Helios 1200mm f/8 telescope. Had to make two trips because I forgot a major component...and then this morning I went there to find a few more. It is now setup ready for a night’s astronomy. Jupiter and the Moon favorable. I’d be out there right now except for the heat! I did manage to show her Jupiter...the Moon having almost set by the time I was setup...short the motor drive power supply and controller...and the finder scope. Still missing is the accessory tray...which may well be in plain sight...but I wasn’t looking for it at the time. I’ve swapped out the UK plug for HU/EU. And now there are hazy clouds. Gads! It’s tomorrow...Jutka and Agi...Pityu was already here...looked at both targets...a few photos...later...as in now...a few prints. Velence...July 23rd 2007. Do not misunderstand...I am not looking for famous ancestry...just the facts. It’s nothing to find records dating back 300 years. The trail is now moving to Sukoro...the next village over to the west around the northern part of Lake Velence. The last record here in the church is a birth of one Tuba Samu (Samuel Tuba) dated 1687. In the book...Varos Volt, Varos Lett...(A City it Was, A City it Became.)(ISBN 963 7843 965)...wherein a 1720 census lists 43 males...females and male children under 17 were not counted...one of which was Samu...aged 33 at the time. No other Tuba name is listed...hence his father...if alive at the time...would be from other parts...leading next to Sukoro on some authority. It will be into November when the expedition is to be mounted. Postdated April 11, 2010: Have yet to make the trip to Sukoro! The heat wave continues! The mornings have been cool enough...but then watch out! I’ve been without internet access since I moved into my new digs. I could...and may well do so...take the laptop back to Jutka’s for a quick connect. [Phone not hooked up here yet.] Wednesday I will see about a broadband connection...and wait 10 day to get it done! I need to bring over a few more items from Anci’s. It’s just too damn hot. I need to get “the” tape from Jutka. I may be able to transcribe it onto a CD. That will be a good thing...a minor loop closed. Velence...July 24th 2007. Up at 0500hrs. On the shore some time later. Nothing to write home about. Printed a Moon shoot. Tomorrow will take care of some business re HU citizenship papers. And see about BB hookup. Was just out in the sun...Damn!!!! It literally burns! “A” called Jutka yesterday(?). Funny! BS. Nothing on my car except that, she is down to one car. Random thought: I would like to have seen Ann Landers on stage with the Beach Boys...singing the chorus of “Help Me Ronda“. Let’s see... Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help...yeah...Help me Ronda Later Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help, help me Ronda Help me Ronda Help...yeah...Help me Ronda Production notes: A bit of swaying would be ok on her part. News Flash...Metropolis: Superman has reported his wallet lost...He described it as blue, red and yellow...with a big “S”. When asked about its contents and what was his greatest loss...Superman is quoted as saying...”Well Lois...that would be my Lucky Gold Card“. (Grocery store chain.) Sources close to the case report that the loss occurred during an unusually difficult kitten in tree extraction. For that matter...Barbara Walters...AKA...Baba Wawa... On stage singing the chorus to Barbara Ann..."Baba Wan...Baba Wan"...etc. Broke down the Helios 1200mm scope. Next I’ll dig out the “Orange Tube“ Celestron C8, 2000mm...and take it for a spin. Velence...July 25th 2007. BB is up and running...at last. A few things to take care of. Velence...July 27th 2007. Took care of one thing. The car remains a problem. It’s still in UK Land. It’s hot again...though it has been worse. Seels & Croft in the background...loud...S&G...too. Got a great email from SSGT Jarvis (USAF) stationed on the Rock. In part: “...Anyway just wanted to write you and tell you how entertained and amused I was with your stories, and if they are true, you have lived a life of ages and I am glad to have been apart if them...Just by reading...(them)." Made my month. Thanks dude. Mongo Jerry...In The Summer Time........... Time to introduce...The local cast of characters: Cousins: All Catholics. Cousin, Jutka (Julianna) (F) The self proclaimed director of...things!...OK all things. Keeper of the graves. Traveler. Cousin, Bela (M) The Wine Master. And last word in most cases. Sp. Sarlota (Sari) Daughters: Previous marriage: Bernadett (Berni) married 3 girls Agnes (Agi) Single Sarlota (Sari) Single Post dated 16 Nov. 2009: Married By Bela: Dora (Dori) Married Judit Single Cousin, Cila (Terez) (F) The family historian...and keeper of the Tree. Sp. Istvan Cousin, Pityu (Istvan) (M) The confirmed bachelor...claims that he will live to an age of 120. And Wine Master’s assistant. Postdated March 11, 2009: Pityu will die in 2008...age 54! RIP. Cousin, Anna (Anci) (F) Sp. Lajos Wine Master’s assistant. Daughters Nikolett and Anita More later on the cast. Had to turn the fan on...that’s better. Clouds to the north...things may get better. So far the heat wave has caused 500 deaths here in HU Land. Amazingly, three of the four radio controlled clocks I have, have achieved lock with Rubgy England’s time transmissions...and are running true though one hour out of sync. I will need to dig out the last clock when again at Anci’s. I’m in no position, as of now, to firing up my Rubidium Frequency Standard...and the associated clocks. Sad, but nothing I can do about it...perhaps at a later time and place. One can dream...no? I do plan to bring over the Kenwood R-2000 and the AOR R-3000. Perhaps a handheld or two. Proper antennas will be a problem...nothing close nor tall enough to string a bit of wire to...though I did think to bring a spool of wire. I look forward to some SWL...and to see what the Italians are up to with slow scan TV. The AOR’s power cube has gone AWOL...and will need to dug out! What a pain. Forgot to ask Jutka for “the tape”. I’m reminded because in the background I’ve got “O Maiden, My Maiden” from Friederike playing on repeat. Melancholy...stuff. I’m out of anything to drink...again...at a time like this. But the weather is not the best...for this sort of thing either. It should be cold and brooding...stormy...dark...scudding clouds...a weak sunset. Or...for that matter...a glorious sunny...though not hot...day...sometime in the afternoon...the sound of birds singing...a tranquil setting...with a view...alone...thinking of other times and places...the misguided hopes of youth...the forks in a road. What would have happened had I turned left...what happened to others because I turned away? What could have happened had I not? This bring to mind a story that’s been haunting me for some many years. I don’t want to make this sound like a wish...that things had been different...but just...what if? The whole thing could have turned on a single word...a gesture...a look. It could have been so simple a thing...looking back now so long ago. I was 16...1960. My buddy Roy and I ended up at this house on 34th Ave. South. It was...on the east side of the street...the house that’s on the north side of the break in houses that gives entry onto Colman Park along 34th South. I don’t remember the reason the we were there...but Roy would have been the one that knew for sure. I also don’t remember if Sue’s name came up...or was it just a girl. The occupants of the house were the Father, the daughter (Susan) and a guy that I thinks was boarding there. His name was Ryan. I seem to think that the first time we were there...Susan was not. We ended up talking to the Father and Ryan...I remember thinking that there was some BS involved regarding their involvement in WWII...as in being in the Rangers...blah...blah...blah. That’s US Army Rangers...tough guys true. Anyway I think Ryan was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America and Roy was one. Sometime later Roy and I go back again. This time Susan make her appearance. GADS! She was STUNNINGLY beautiful! Blond...perfect body. Gorgeous face. In 2002...I was back in Seattle visiting the OM (Old Man, my Father). He was living the same house that I grew up in...the same old neighborhood...though seeming smaller. Wondering around the area brought me subconsciously back to “the” house. The house on 34th Ave. South. It seemed that there was no one about. I thought about knocking on the door...and what?...asking for Susan? It seemed silly. And so it was...I never did do it. Not after forty year...what where the odds that she would still be there. Thoughts of “Great Expectations” popped into my mind. Crazy! So there we were this time with Susan and she suggested playing cards...Hearts. An appropriate game considering where this story is going. Well...I didn’t know how to play Hearts. Not a problem...Susan would teach me...she says...OK by me. And so it went...playing card on the floor with GORGEOUS Susan...no one else playing mattered. Now...again sometime later I’m there alone...that is...this time without Roy. I don’t remember how it came about...but it must have been...because when it came time for me to leave...and we’d been talking up a storm...she started to walk me home in early twilight...and Roy was not there. We got a few blocks...and I walked her back...talking about what I don’t remember...it didn’t matter. She was about to walk me all the way home...but her father nixed it...and like the gallant knight...I agreed! SHE LIKED ME. GADS! As in REALY. But... That was the last time I ever saw her...in the flesh. There I was 16...and not knowing a thing about girls. I liked them well enough...though I was not sure what you could or could not did with one. By this time I’d heard a lot of jokes and guys talking about girls...I re-told some myself but I sure as hell didn’t know what I was talking about. All a real waste of time. Anyway...there was the baseball metaphor of getting to various bases...first, second, third...and of course HOME PLATE!...whatever that meant. So there I was minding my own business...when out of the blue I get a phone call. Now that I think of it...how did she...where did she...get my number? It was GORGEOUS Susan! GADS! Now fortified with a bottle of local (Nadap) Rajnai Rizling...chilled...I continue. She cut to the chase. Asked me if I’d like to accompany her to her school’s dance. I think she attended a Catholic school...otherwise she’d have gone to the same school(s) as Roy and I. Anyway...there we were. Here we are at the fork in the road! You don’t even know that that’s where you are for real. A REAL BLOODY fork in the road. Panic! You know you can’t go. What do you say? Think of something! It should be believable...let her off easy as it were. Don’t think of yourself...think of her feelings. Don’t think about what will happen as a result of what you are about to do. Don’t think about the future...think now. Lie if you have to...but make it plausible! It never occurred to me what the outcome of what was about to happen would be. Never. How could I? A bit of a buzz...thank you very much... I can just imagine the scene at the other end of the line...“Will it be a yes... I hope...I know he likes me...and I think he knows that I like him!” I weep at thought...after all these years. I felt cornered...no way out...I had to make up something. I couldn’t just tell the truth...too embarrassed to tell. Time for a smoke break...gather my thoughts...back in 5. In 2004 the OM died! RIP. I headed back to Seattle from London UK Land. The task of figuring out the disposition of all my stuff stored there after moving to California then England was overwhelming. My friend Bill Bayliss came to my aid and things got sorted out...sort of. I don’t remember the force that compelled me to drive north on 34th Ave. South one day...but it did...Just a last look at “The House”. [Normally I'd have done so on 31st ave.] The house looked as though no one lived there. The grass was over grown. There were leaves piled up in the corners. There needed to be some painting done on the exterior woodwork. Great Expectations! Should I get out of the car and ring the bloody bell. Hell there’s no one home...why bother. There couldn’t be! There couldn’t be anyone...look at the place... Take your bloody photo and leave...I do. Your last photo...so that when you look at it at some future time...you’ll think the same old thoughts...WHY didn’t you at least try the door bell? Now...or the time before? What a fool you are/were! The bottom line is that...short of a miracle...I’ll never know what happened...after that phone call. I never heard from her again. Time for another...BI5... That was forty seven years ago! (2007) The truth is that I couldn’t have handled it...plain and simple. When my “time” did come...years later...it was a grandslam home run...first time out. There we have it... the fork in the road. I can think of no other fork that I encountered since then...looking back now...having the same impact...as GORGEOUS Susan in the HOUSE on 34th Ave. South. Time for another...BI5... Perhaps it’s because it died on the vine. Poignant...I guess...summing it up. Was it never meant to be? Was it a true fork? I don’t know the answer. Does it matter? I don’t know the answer to that either. Sigh. It‘s said that the OM was to have married someone else other than the OL (Old Lady, my Mother). And...wait for it...that the one he was to marry went into a convent as a result. A little too far out there for my way of thinking...but I can’t prove it otherwise. Sue...Miss Havisham...who knows. I do know that I wish that I’d have been...what(?)...real...I guess. [I now think that the OM had "knocked" her up!] If she’d have asked for almost any other first date. A walk in the park...down by the lake...in daylight...no time restraints...take all day...talk...pick daisies...hell...anything...just to be with her. I wasn’t rejecting her...I was rejecting myself...for her. I know for sure that had it not ended as it did...I would have gotten both of us into real trouble! Oh Maiden, My Maiden... Time for another...BI5... Well...such is life. There are more unknowns than you can imagine. Sometime later...like my junior year...would find me in the back seat of Patton’s car...with a girl in my lap. How I got there and why me...I don’t know. Margaret...Patton’s girlfriend in the front...this other girl in my lap in back. She...the girl in my lap says...at one point...that I sure “know a lot”...gads...all I did was have my hand on her knee...ok just a bit higher. Gees...I didn’t know what I was doing. Next thing I know...they...the two girls are planting kisses on me. Sue from the front seat...climbing over...and the girl in my lap. This was at a time before smear-less lipstick...I had no idea what was going on...but it was the girls idea to plaster my face with lipstick. A victim...I guess. I think the other girls in my class thought I was aloof. They would have seen these two senior girls fawning...taking liberties...over me after school...just outside the main doors. I don’t think they could figure me out. Then there was the day! Must have been my senior year...at Husky Stadium...at a city wide track meet. Track didn’t attract much attention period...much less cheerleaders etc. But on this day...there they were. Not cheer leading...but there nontheless. I think it was after my second event...the third leg of the mile relay. We got the Silver Medal...Anyway...I was just standing there next to this other guy talking...minding my own business...when a voice rings out...blah...blah...blah. I can’t understand a word. I ask the guy I’d been talking to what it was she...the voice wanted? WELL GADS...she wanted my sweatpants. Note: Get some bottles of wine on stock. It was Barbara S. as I recall...She’d never spoken to me before...and she was in fact a cheerleader. Again...what to do? It would have meant a meeting afterwards...OH! It was a bit chilly that day. Was it me...or would anyone have done? Not a simple equation to solve...in my mind. Then there was the moat. My luck...had I tried to throw it...it could have landed in the dry moat. She wouldn’t have gotten what she wanted...what ever that was...really. I would have to go and retrieve it somehow. etc. Where would that fork have taken things? I mean...there we are after the fact...and...”thanks for the sweatpants”...giggle...giggle...it was really cold...OR...I really loved putting on your sweats...here take my panties? Another fork in the road. Oh...I didn’t throw them to her. Sometimes I was just way too logical. I mean if anyone else would have done...then let it be someone else. Postdated 30 Nov , 2009: There was at Franklin High School...and at most other high schools...a social hierarchy. We...the middle class called the ones at the "top"...soshes. I was not among those that had any desire to climb into that strata. I had no pretenses. So when this sosh girls asked for my sweatpants...given that we'd not exactly been..."introduced"...and I'd not had any real conversations with her...I felt that she was taking advantage of her status...in effect trifling with me. Good for a laugh. Not to say that she was not nice...which she was. I just don't think that she knew what she was doing. I took it to be a case of her seeing what she could get me to do. A sosh girl thing...as it were! Down to the last short half glass of wine. Then there was Roger. Roger was my nemesis for all practical purposes. We were both on the varsity football and track teams. We were also in the same photography class that senior year...where I was a student leader for half the class...ol' Roger ending up in mine. So...there we are one day...close to the end of term...when Roger says to me that “I had better give him an "A"...grade” Professor Petite had told the class that the student leaders would be grading the individuals in their charge. Well....ol' Roger took this state of affairs pretty serious. On the track field...shot put...the hundred yard dash...Roger would always win...by a short distance. That distance was whatever he gained on me at the very start. Once out of the blocks...he never got further ahead...just that short distance. In the shot put...one day I bettered his distance by a fraction. He was beside himself. Loved it. Last of the wine...gone. Time for another...BI5... Ha! The fact was the we had a number of shots...some iron...and some brass...but there was one that was all beat to hell...and suspected of being under weight...though never measured as such. It was with that shot that I beat ol' Rog. In my junior year I didn’t go out for football. I thought my grades needed to improve...hence no sports. Though...as it would turn out I was able to get my gym class as the last class of the day. And instead of participating in the normal class activity...I ask to be allowed to take a shot out and practice for the hours class. Granted. So there I’d be out in the rains of autumn and putting the shot while the varsity football team practiced. In my 1961 class annual there are a number of entries by my friends wishing me well and hoping that I would beat Roger the coming year. The word had gotten out that I was out there in the rain and all that. There is one other thing. I now know as fact that there are differing body types. No amount of training...or inspirational speeches by coaches...whatever...can change the fact that your body is just not the right type to ever succeed at a winning performance. It’s a matter of slow twitch, fast twitch muscles. Roger was fast twitch...I slow. Not a chance in hell did I have. So anyway here is ol' Rog TELLING me that I had better give him an “A”. I mean what...he’s going into Rocket science...Thermonuclear physics...Brain surgery...Corporate law...Astrophysics...Biochemistry...Palaeontology...an Astronaut ...NO...Don’t tell me...it’s PE...Physical Education! A bloody coach! From a junior collage no less. And I had better give him an “A”? It just goes to show! He could have thought...“hey...Tuba’s a straight shooter...I behave and he gives me an A.” But no...instead...“Tuba hates my guts and will try and get back at me.“ Like what...is that what he’d have done? The funny thing was that in the end I don’t know what he got for a grade. But he did go on to being a coach...at a high school. Way to go Rog. Entry dated Dec 9, 2007: There had been some sort of AAU sanctioned track and field meet right there at Franklin High School...and one thing that made it interesting was that...unlike the normal varsity track and field event that we were able to participate in...this one had the discus and javelin in addition to all the other events! To make a long story short...I took the first place ribbons in those two events...beating ol’ Roger. It’s interesting how some of the girls that were the cat’s meow in grade school turned into also-ran’s by the time they reached high school. And the one’s that were ok...but no big deals turning into real babes. Kathy K. was one such of the latter. Not that I didn’t think she was cute in grade school. Time to pull the big switch. More today...but later. It’s the 28th...early. Velence...July 28th 2007. I remember her in high school...senior year. Gads...a babe. 35 years later I saw that she appeared to be living alone...correct me if I’m wrong. What happened? Just goes to show that everybody has a story. It’s partly sunny on Lake Velence, HU Land. The prospect of rain is low...but the area could use a few days of gentle rain. The grapes are suffering. What to write about next...? The place is a disaster area...and needs a bit of attention. Done deal. I have to ask Pityu to show me his coin collection. As I understand it he has some Roman coins. Velence goes back to Roman times and naturally farther...but without benefit of records. There was a Roman road that ran between Szekesfehervar...Fehervar for short...(the white fort) and Budapest...which is now partly covered by the M7. Sometime back I talked to a fisherman who’d told me about some Roman coins he’d found as a child. Velence is between Fehervar and Budapest...on the main drag as it were. There are of course Roman ruins around the entire area. Reading into Pygmalion...GADS! I’d put the open book face down on the desk...the back cover showing. I’d looked at the picture of Shaw more than once...and mistook it for something other than a photograph...Then...I noticed the photo credit...Karsh!...Karsh of Ottawa! Blow me down...sink me. Anyway...Eliza is in the bath. Gads! The date published is 1956...6 years after his death. GADS!...the copyright date is 1916. Shaw was born one year before the date of the coin I’d found while walking home from grade school...1856. Well there we have it...Pygmalion...read. Most interseting. I enjoyed his Caesar and Cleopatra...on film...staring Vivian Leagh as a young Cleo. Pityu has dropped by with a quarter watermelon...and an invitaion to join him and Istvan tomorrow morning. The destination is to be the Skeleton Field. The name comes from the fact that the Turks had left a few bodies behind...the last time they were in the area...courtesy the Hungarians. Forgot to ask about his coins! Damn! Where was I? Oh...I felt compelled to find the photos of “the” house. Found it the last place I looked. AND...another photo I’d been looking for. That was a photo of a two page spread in National Geographic (Society) Magazine...dated January 2002. This took place the same time as the house photo. The OM subscribed to NGSM and a few were laying about. So now and then I’d go through them front to back...issue by issue. A few pages into one issue the headline reads...”Un-looted Tomb Revealed”...on the next line...wait for it...”Syrian site may be the lost city of Tuba”! Gads!...I thought at the time. The short piece went on the state that the site was believed to the location of the lost city of Tuba, west of the Euphrates, Tuba was the capital of a kingdom centered on the trade route between Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and the Mediterranean...c 2400 BC. Well now...I’ve always had problems with the fact that the word “tuba” has no real meaning in Magyar (Hungarian). Unless it was a name of a place...a city perhaps. It’s not a stretch. It was common in the past to have a name that in effect said you were...say...Leonard from/of Vinci...or say...Charles from/of Gaulle. Leonardo De Vinci...and Charles De Gaulle respectively. The Magyar tribes weren’t so formal. There are of course the same usual Smiths, Bakers, Black, Small, Big...in effect what you were or did. Another one comes to mind...Nameth...German...as in Joe “Broadway Joe” Nameth. Also I know of no convention...common in Scandinavia...of a name saying in effect...“the son of“...Johansson...etc. I think that these convention are old...going back to those times when a son was named for his father...or as I’ve said...what you did. One problem has to do with the fact that every village would have a Smith...a Baker...Butcher...un-related to another Smith or Baker or Butchers in a village only a mile away. Another problem with “the son of” scheme is that it only works for one generation...else you’d have name like Johanssonsonson... The “from” scheme has the same problem...Except that there would have been a first “from“. I also think that a name based on “from” might have been a name someone else gave you...”Oh...You’re the one from Blah Balh.” And henceforth called Blah. Then...get this. Another convention that was new to me is wherein a fore word is used...prefixing not a name but noun...as Papa. It’s used in place of a given name...to differentiate between two or more “Papas” for example. Two come to mind that I’ve heard...Juice Papa...and Dollar Papa. Those that knew...knew. In the same way...once a name was given...those that knew...knew...and the others would have to learn...the story behind the name. In the context of being give a name based on were they came from...it’s the same. That guy over there named Tuba...came from Tuba. “You’re a long way from Tuba...Tuba...Hah hah hah. It’s a convention that had been used in the old wild west...if you believe the Hollywood westerns. Hey...Kansas, Frisco, Montana, Tex(as), Durango...etc. In naming someone it’s only necessary for those that need to know...who’s who. On the Tuba Family Tree...there are no less than six Istvan’s (Stephen’s )...since 1687. I’m the sixth. There are three within the remaining cousins...hence the nicknames...Pityu, Pista, Pisti...Istvan is a common name. Interestingly...Stephen/Istvan means crown or king...in Greek. Sometime later...The rain has arrived. Some lightning...got one shot...missed a much better one. Time to switch off... Velence...July 29th 2007. Did the valley of death this morning. Got a few good shots...printed a few. Clouded over...in the end. Time has passed. Anci and Cila brought Niki over for a photograph...all dressed up in her bride’s maid dress. Did the shoot with the Nikkor 80-200 2 8. Took her out into the street...to which she exclaimed...”what...out in the street?” Oh...Used my patented soft focus 135mm 3 5...with flash...also. Printed two. Look good. Pygmalion strikes again. TTPTP... Velence...July 30th 2007. It’s raining! This is a good thing. Later back to bed. Later yet...a big lunch for me...now a second cup of Java...heated in the microwave...since the coffee maker is a mishmash of parts and doesn’t keep the made coffee hot. Thoughts on the Skeleton Field photos of yesterday. I got the classic sunflower shots I’d wanted. The light was about as good as one could ask for...and there were plenty of sunflowers...and a great background...in this case the village of Nadap...with the requisite church steeple. Friederike Suite...Minuet, Intermezzo and Polka playing... A number of months ago Jutka took me up into the hills one hot day. She led me over hill and dale. At one point we stopped to talk to an old gentleman...later to find out that he was her godfather. Well now...there I was at the Valley of Death...scanning the horizon for shots. A hill. Vinyards...a house...trees...good light. Take shots...as the light changes more shots. Back here...pick one shot to print...print. Later show Istvan who happened to be passing through. Thinks the shot is great...yes it is say I. Goes on to tell me about the resident of the house...etc...etc...in the end adding that it’s Jutka’s godfather! Gads...I thought...so that’s where we were...way over there months back. It all came together. When they stop laughing at your jokes...it’s all over...Hahahhahahaa. Think about it though...they have to not laugh...consciously on purpose...even if it’s damn funny. I mean what(?)...“damn that was funny...but don’t laugh...what ever you do...in fact put on your shit face...just to really stick it in.“ Or your jokes were never funny to begin with. Innocence is pure. Never underestimate stupidity...it has no limits. Those that don’t know...guess. And wrongly think that everyone else does too. The past has passed. The reason you can’t eat just one cashue is because you don’t want too. The chicken crossed the road because...it’s there. As in a challenge. It’s later... Pityu, Istvan and Layos paid a visit. Pityu brought his coins. I showed Lajos the photos of his daugther Niki. Liked them...I offered him the option of taking them...but they all said I should wait...The girls will come here. OK. Then as I’m scarfing down some dinner...I look out the window to see sunshine spotlighting the opposite shore. Real low sun angle. Grab the 200 and pull the 80-200 off...slap on the 300 2 8 still mounted to the big Slik...and out onto the patio. Get off a few rounds. It had been over cast all day...so the sun was a surprise. The distant horizon was a deep red/orange. Had a faraway...long ago feel to it. A lone fisherman in his boat...small...dark...vague...silhouetted against the redish water. Sometime later... TTPTS... Velence...July 31st 2007. Well now... Today dawned clear and cool. Waited for the Starlings overflight...but either it had already happened or some other place...though I did see some on the distant horizon. Fakata Tamas...Thomas Black...has been telling me of a place down the road past the “tractors”...that has lots of birds to hear him say it. After returning from a bit of quick shopping...I decided to try out a bike path leading off around the shore of the lake. The trial was paved for part of the way...then a rutted car width sandy stretch...then just a foot/bike trail...ending at the sport complex. An Olympic class rowing site. I was forced off to the right...and right again at a road that would ultimately lead back here. I hadn’t gone too far when up ahead I could see the “tractor” place. Sure enough...just before you get there...is an open field. I walked the bike around the closed gate onto the field. Finish this tomorrow... Entry dated Dec 9, 2007: I took in the view and was not impressed...at all. I mean where were all the birds...etc. I did see a few...but nothing to write home about...but I went farther onto the field...figuring that I should give it my best evaluation. So it was...that about halfway my eye caught a shape on the ground. It was circular...and as I got closer...it resolved into a large...coin...for lack of a better term. It was visible as a result of rain...having washed away the sand. Just visible on the up turned face was what looked to be a Greek figure! My heart thumped! Naturally I picked it up. Later I took a photo of the spot where I found it. Later yet...I joke with Pityu and Istvan...that after I had seen Pityu’s coins...that I thought...hey!...I can find coins too. And did. It turns out that the “coin” was some sort of sports medal...without any inscription nor date. Anci, Cila, and the two girl came by for a show and tell...Talked... laughed...told my story above...took the two photographs and left. TTPTP Velence...August 2nd 2007. Yesterday I finally got around to going to Anci’s and picked up a few items. A patio table and chair. The Kenwood R-2000...A book on Hungarian history...a Hungarian to English dictionary. The ultrasonic cleaner...to try an clean the medal I found the day before. The patio furniture needed to be cleaned too and I set about doing just that when Istvan showed up. Asked him if it was possible to get some water flowing out of the faucet. He set to work to get that done...and sometime later Pityu and Lajos showed up. By that time the table and chair were already up on the patio so we were able to hang out up there. I told them the story of the medal...and later drug out my old Hungarian paper monies. I got a history lesson from Istvan and Pityu regarding the bills. Now for the interesting part. I was given these bills may decades ago by the OL. One of the bills was a smallish...near mint condition Turkish One Lirasi. I remember examining it and discovering that it had been printed in England. When I asks the lads where they thought the Hungarian bills were printed they said Hungary. Though I’m not sure of that...I dug out the Turkish bill...to show them that not all countries had printed there own monies. Before handing over the bill...I took a close look at the line of text at the very bottom of the bill...where I knew would be the origin of printing...to make sure I knew what I was talking about. GADS! I read the line the second time...Brabury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd. Then the rest...wait for it...NEW MALDON, SURREY, ENGLAND! It turns out that New Maldon is visable from were I had lived in Berrylands...a veritable stones throw. Much later... TTPTS Velence...August 7th 2007. It’s the start of another bloody hot day. Have done the ISS (International Space Station) the last three day. Two nights ago Pityu, Cila and Istvan observed it with me. I took a number of frames. Some ok. The world doesn’t realize that everything American does not translate well. Take a drive-in like McDonalds for example. In England you will find a McDonalds in the middle of the block(!)...nothing more than a veritable hole in the wall. The whole idea is to be able to “drive-in” or through should you chose to. Well...that would take a car. You drive to it...having already decided to park or drive through. Parking should not be a major problem of logistics...as in how far away you’ll find a place to park much less how much time it will take to walk there and back. The whole idea is “in and out”. The original drive-ins were places to hang out...”in your car”. The car was the key issue. A culture based on the car. You had a car and “made the scene”. To see and be seen. And you could eat without leaving your car. After all...what’s the point of getting out of your car...to then sit inside some place without your symbol...your car. Postdated March 11,2009: The other day I caught "American Graffiti" on TV. While I thought that there were way too many cars...the drivein scenes looked about right. Something you will will never see in UK Land! Later in the day. Now it’s a thunderstorm. Cooler. Got off a few frames. Should be interesting. Need to make a run to the store. Will wait for the threat of rain to subside. Got knocked off-line. Later yet. This morning...about midnight I was locking up. I heard a strange sound but went on with the business at hand. Then I heard voices...and looked out to see what was happening. It turns out that the sound that I’d heard was a body hitting concrete...having fallen 8-9 feet from the second floor balcony. She was naked except for bikini panties. The guy looking over her was nude. Ultimately a call was placed and emergency services arrived...though slower than I would have expected. Sari and Pityu showed up...and then Cila. After they left I just had time to try a few frames with the MTO 1000mm...on the ISS. Not good enough. I may have the second of two...this one being the worst. Tomorrow STS-118 is to be launched and there should be a chance to see and photograph both. Fingers crossed. There is another ISS pass in 27 minutes. Thinking. A bit later. Just back from observing ISS with the 11x80s. A bit later...TPPTS... Velence...August 8th 2007. Winds are picking up...heard some distant thunder. Went into Feharvar with Jutka today...took care of some business...and bought a small (14 inch) TV...while she was off taking care of her business. Did I mention that the discone is up and functioning. Strange that I’m picking up the polar sats outside my supposed radio horizon...given an overestimated 300 meter elevation. This happens only to the south. Think I’ll see what GPS says. BIAF. Velence...August 9th 2007. GPS says 114 meters...give or take. We’ve had some rain today...thunderstorm. Nice. Django Reinhardt in the background... Well damn...the MTO 1000mm that’s here is number one of two after all. The damn thing is I must have taken it apart back in UK Land...and never put the last two screws back in. I found two unaccounted for screws on the bench...and put them safe just before the move. I knew that I’d taken photos of lens one when I first got it...and as luck would have it the serial number is just visible and matches the one here. It was the best of the two...so now I’m surprised that the shots of ISS the other night were so poor. AND then...STS-118 is in orbit as I write...and there would be a good opportunity to observe it and ISS at the same time if it weren’t for the clouds. Well...one hour till the next pass...the clouds may move off. Got an email from my friend Bill...with some attached photos of a hummingbird. Damn nice shots! I owe him a longer email back. Getting these pages onto my website will take some doing since it’s on this machine...and my internet access is on the laptop. Later... Back from the shore...shooting lightning strikes over the lake...got two...one good. I was driven back by rain and a low battery...should have taken the spare. STS and ISS a bust...clouds. TTPTS Velence...August 10th 2007. I’m thinking about where I shall end up...given a month and then some...closer to two. I mean this is ok but not great and the thought of going back to Jutka’s...as is the plan...leaves me wanting. It’s the lack of permanence...not “my” place...space. Everyone has been most helpful...and generous...but not overly so. Velence...August 11th 2007. Afternoon... Up till past midnight...last night...this morning...watching a full blown thunderstorm. It really came down for awhile. Meteor shower on for tomorrow...and next morning. Hope for clear skies. Pityu came around looking for Jutka who’s car was blocking the drive...and not finding her here...suspected that she was visiting next door. Talked...left. Later...Jutka came by to tell me that Pityu had been looking for her since her car was blocking the drive...and that she had been visiting next door. Sorry but I’ve been reading Catch-22...and the dialog just creeps in... Then asked to take some of my photos for a “show and tell” at her place. I gave her the latest photos from here...the US...and UK...collections. Something about a lady photog...does ad work...took shots on the shore yesterday...not a good day for it if you ask me...etc. Should be interesting feedback. I’m listening to some old midi format music that I’d not played in a long while...Still like them...in a sense...charming...simple. I came across them while looking for some photos of the (old Tuba) wine cellar taken a number of years ago. Love working like this. Free again. There is guy out in the field opposite with a horse and wagon. Gads. Took a few frames with the MTO 1000mm. And then when the wagon was on the move with the 300 2 8...But I had not switched back to auto focus...DUH. Velence...August 12th 2007. It’s overcast...like all day and now a drizzle. So much for the meteor shower tonight. Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11...The Rondo...in the background... I’m going back to re-read the page...to make correction and additions. Back in a flash...almost... Some time later...I’ve drained the last of the Baileys... I like the stuff but never thought I’d be taking a shower in it. After pouring out the last drop...I capped the bottle and upended it...to get the absolute last...which I’d consume later. Later arrived... The bottle had been in the fridge... Boom...it went...with the last of it all over the place and me. Back to the re-read. Sometime later...Done deal. Slavonic Dances in the background...MIDI. The rain has stopped for now...not holding out any hope for clear skies. Just my luck. Took some test shots with the MTO 1000mm. Added a fourth leg to dampen out any vertical movement. Plan to try sand bags next. The test shots showed that there was evidence of thermal effect over the distance which could be close to a mile. TTPTP... Velence...August 13th 2007. Up at 0630...now afternoon. Started reading Cornwell’s The Grail Quest. Good start...fits my mood. I was going to go to Anci’s in the cool of the morning...but now after having gone to the store...it’s too warm...on and off. Dundee has been down since 0000hrs the 11th...so no Metoesat images to check the weather. Sorted through boxes of prints...weeding out the one’s I’m not interested in showing. There were some A4s that I’ll put aside. There are a number of images I will get around to printing one of these day...but it doesn’t feel right...yet. Shots taken with the MTO 1000mm...long distance stuff...very far away...moody. The setting for Cornwell’s book is England/France...1342. That’s 345 years before the birth of Tuba Samu...25 years (about one generation) farther back than from his birth till today...making it about 15 generation ago. I wonder where “he” lived. Who was his mate. All the usual questions. 1342 was right in the middle (1301-1382) of what’s been called The Age of The Angevines. The area of Hungary...at that time...was more than five times larger than now. The ruler...The Angevine Charles Robert (Charles I) of Hungary died June 16, 1342. He was half French, half Hungarian. Much later...And I’m getting set for the off peak portion of the meteor shower...It’s clearing to the east. Later yet...Just brought in the Celestron 2000mm having shot Jupiter. Then clouds appeared. Gads. Had to make a smokes run too. In 22 minutes the ISS+STS-118 will be on close approach. Should try the MTO 1000mm again. This may be the closest yet...which I figure has been the problem with my shots so far...not close enough. The only problem with this pass is that it’s lights out when just overhead. Not a good pass. 17 minutes... Should remove the 10-20mm and replace it with the MTO...on the large Slik...will do now. Back later... Later...it’s tomorrow...0200hrs! Velence...August 14th 2007. From last night into the early hours of this morning I was out under the stars. Clouds receded making for viable conditions. Took many frames with the Sigma 10-20mm for the meteor shots...later switched to an old Nikkor 50 1 4...interesting...and later still to the 300 2 8...for close ups of the Andromeda Galaxy...did the Pleiades too. I’d always been envious of the eminent writer of Ingalls three volume set...Amateur Telescope Making. The authors lived at a time when the skies were truly dark. Many grew up and lived is rural settings...Just a matter of stepping outside...and there would be the star studded sky...the Milky Way...bright...Andromeda Galaxy...visible to the naked eye. This morning was my first time experiencing anything close to what they would have seen. Great fun...and will do it as often as possible...perhaps find a more remote site...as there was some light pollution all around. The sky was not truly black...a dark gray. I did see a few satellites...and a few meteors...not worth writing home about. Shot a large number of frames...tossed most. The next project will be to set up the equatorial mount...do a polar alignment...and blast away with what ever lens suits the moment...taking longer exposures than the 30 seconds I’ve limited myself too so far. Oh...I’ve also noticed that...well...uh...OK fine...I’ve got a case of the dreaded...HOT Pixels...there I’ve said it! Camera frame count is now over 25,000. Velence...August 15th 2007. Start of another hot day. I can see that I’ll not get much done outside...But I am set up to shoot a Woodpecker that frequents the same tree...from a doorway. Thought I’d try the 300 2 8 with a 1.4x extender. The Tamron this time...Same problem as with the Sigma...hunting focus. Gone to manual. Did the same thing yesterday...the woodpecker...and got a printable shot. I was up a 0230hrs. Went outside and took a look at the stars. They were all there. Jutka came by yesterday to return my photos. She said they said...that I must have some very expensive (photo) equipment. Nothing about the photos themselves. Figures. The other day Anci showed up to return my key to Jutka’s house. She came over two days before to get it...since Jutka was locked out. Anci thought of it...getting my key...after reconsidering the use of a scaling ladder through the breach of her open bedroom window...taking into consideration the recent tumble onto concrete by my neighbor. I don’t know what the big deal is...E=MC^2. It’s just another “3 banger”. The power variant of Ohm’s Law...is P=RI^2...I rest my case. Did you ever notice that Superman is never called as a witness...nor jury duty? Speaking of which...What’s the purpose of the cape...anyway? Velence...August 17th 2007. Yesterday evening brought the ISS+STS-118 into the most favorable position to date and I was successful in photographing it, resulting in my best images ever. The two large solar panels were clearly visible. The docked Shuttle was less discernable because of orientation. I took great care in pre-focusing the MTO 1000mm on some stars. I had on more that one occasion found myself re-focusing during a pass...not a good idea! AND on top of that I just noticed that where I thought infinity focus was...is not so. I have to check this out. The Russian lens did well. MTO stands for Maksutov Tele Optic...referring to the optical design. Would love to do it again with the Celestron C8. The images would be twice as large...and higher resolution. Today will be hot again. The barometer has been stuck for the last two months...moving only slightly now and then. I need to do some research on equatorial mount orientations for ISS orbits...so I only have to move in one dimension. Also a better arrangement for shooting straight up. Tripod mounted, it’s nearly impossible to shoot straight up. When I looked at the first results...I was amazed to say the least. It’s what I had hoped for from the beginning...but never got. It’s been in the back of my mind that I should forget about approach shots and concentrate only on those just before overhead and after...and on those orbits that will in fact be nearly overhead. Slant angle shots just don’t cut it. Velence...August 18th 2007. Well here I am again waiting for the next ISS...38 minutes to go. The orbit will be a good one...very close to an overhead pass...and I will be able to shot from the balcony. The only complication will be the clouds to the west...and approaching. I wonder if I should change my exposure...from ISO 1600 at 1/1000 seconds to ISO 800...and reduce the grain a bit? The MTO is claimed to be f/10...but I rate it as an f/11. Got to remember to check focus...again. I see Jupiter...out the window to my left...is shining. First target for focus. A crescent moon is low to the southwest. Yesterday evening Pityu dropped by with the extension cord I asked for...and we ended up talking for two hours. 28 minutes! That’s to my radio horizon. I normally look for the ISS when it’s 20° above...but the other day...I saw it much lower...maybe 10°. This morning I spotted a squirrel...the first I’ve seen here. Dark little sucker...munching on almonds...right off the tree. 24 minutes! Time for a SB. 12 minutes! Fortified with a glass of house wine...I’m set. 2 minutes! Then another 5 for it to be overhead. RIGHT...it’s above the horizon...back when I’m back. Back...and a quick look shows the shots to be great! Velence...August 20th 2007. In the middle of a thunderstorm. I’m back from lunch with Jutka... Hungary is celebrating it’s birthday. A thousand years plus. Last night I got a shot of the setting crescent moon. It was real low in the western sky...could hardy see it. Yesterday I got an email from my friend Bill...wherein he informed me that Mary Lou had been diagnosed with brain cancer. DAMN! The doctors hold out hope for their treatment thereof. DAMN! Jutka is setting the stage...as I write...for my return to her place. Gads! That was close. (Lightning.) I printed a shot that I took sometime ago...and always liked the look of. The print is close to what I saw. The scene looks like a tabletop model. A toy. And again the 300 2 8 came through. Velence...August 23rd 2007. I fired up the film scanner yesterday. The day before, Jutka and I went up to the Tuba Wine Cellar. She’s snagging me into doing some work...namely the door...in preparation for some festivities next month...or the next after that...I didn’t make a note of it. Anyway...on the way back we stopped at Anci’s...where I grabbed a box of negatives. One negative I came across this morning was a shot of Bonnie. Perk and Bonnie...just an odd length of film...a few random shots. It’s a candid photograph...which is unusual...all the other shots of her were part of a photo shoot...always “on”. Velence...August 24th 2007. It’s noon...and another bloody hot day. The family has gone to Lake Balaton. I opted not to go. Yesterday I had just seen the 1800GMT (at 2000hrs local) satellite shot and noted that there was a major cloud formation over the southern part of Balaton. The evening was still hot and so I sat out on the balcony scanning the horizon. I soon noted that the sky in the direction of Balaton was lighting up with flashes of lightning. Not just one area but all of the southwest. A bit later...the wind picked up. I called Jutka and told her of my observations. She normally battens down the hatches with a threat of heavy rain. She said she would. Hang up. Back outside... The wind picked up again with strong gusts. The frequency of lightning increased. And it was moving this way. Wind much stronger now...lightning flashes...4 per second all over the southwest sky. Getting closer. I then notice...on the southwest horizon ...that the lights are out and that there were two plumes of smoke...red in color. Call Jutka again. Tell her...She says that she hasn’t yet started to button thing up. Gads! I guess she didn’t take my prognosis serious. I tell her I’m out there taking photographs. Hang up. Back outside. The wind is now getting really serious! I had turned all the balcony furniture against the wall...neatly in a row. I even had the presence of mind to take in the big glass ashtray...thinking! I then ran around the house closing windows and doors. Then with the wind continuing to get even stronger...CRASH...BANG...out on the balcony. I’m still inside trying to close windows that won’t stay closed. DAMN. Finally I go back out. All the furniture is piled up on the east side...My discone antenna is still up...just. I leave the furniture where it ended up...continue to shoot frames. I think I hear the phone...look inside and sure as hell it is...light blincking. It’s Jutka telling me that she’d been delayed buttoning up because of high winds...NO(!) kidding I think...Tell her I’m out there shooting...she tells me to get inside...and that there is lightning all around! Couldn’t prove it by me... Tell her it’s started to rain...and that I am going in because of it. The rain hits. Lightning all over the sky...5 a second...a flash somewhere all the time...heavy rain...strong gusts. Then...I see a flutter of wings...It’s a Swallow seeking refuge...making no headway against the wind...it settles on the window ledge facing into the wind. I talk to it. It doesn’t say a word back. Take a survey of the damage. Gads...the pile of furniture is one piece shy. I’ll look for the chair later. Later... Gads it’s on the ground a good twenty feet to the east...I’ll go get it later. Later... GADS!...what the hell...there is my birdbath...also...in two pieces! Broken...the bowl snapped right off the stem. And the bowl is broken too. Velence...August 25h 2007. The Sun rose right on time this morning. I’ve moved all the radio clocks across the room. Yesterday all four were locked and tracking nicely. Velence...August 26th 2007. Well...the grape harvest is in as of yesterday. Spent the whole day as part of the “crew”. Mostly family with a number of friends. Started at 0800hrs...and by 1900hrs the pressing was almost done. The harvest was a poor one owing to improper or non existent spaying...by others. Took a number of photos...naturally. The only good news was that the weather held. Sunny by midday...and on. Tired today. Have not been inspired to write. The latest news is that my car is at last fixed...but has a dead battery. And now I wait for the hammer to drop on how much it will cost...and how it will get here. It’s been a real debacle...to say the least. Velence...October 19th 2007. Big gap in time! [Postdated 25 July 2010: It was in this month that Wilbur "Mac" McPherson died of cancer. Mac was the owner of Radar. We knew Mac from the mid fifties on. He was a good man.] Feel guilty about not writing my friend Bill. Gads. Not much to say. The weather has turned colder. Still in a quandary about the next move...another major headache. The car is still in UK land...parked on the street with a dead battery. Damn! My internet access is a real bummer. I can count on getting kicked off-line numerous times during a session! And since my access is through the laptop...I don’t get inspired to answer emails...etc...because I can’t type on the small keyboard. I caught some sort of bug the other day. In UK land I would have had a flu shot...done deal. Pityu, Cila, Istvan, Sari...all down with it. Bill asked to read my blog pages...so yesterday I found a printed copy...and read through it. Lots of typos. So I will need to make the correction now. I’ve been scanning some of my old negatives...for possible use on my website. The scanner produces inconsistent results. Something about the sensors I’m sure. Yesterday evening would have been a good one for photographing the ISS...but as I had joked...it was in fact overcast. The next one will be tomorrow...fingers crossed. OH! The plot thickens re the lost city of Tuba in Syria. It turns out that it’s mentioned numerous times in the Ebla texts...(a city not far from Tuba...where some 20,000 clay tablets were found). Also I did a GS for “Tuba Syria” and got a map of Syria showing the location of Tuba...but I think it’s a town or village...now...with that name. But it’s located in the same area as the old lost city. Will need to dig around some more. The other interesting thing has to do with the age...2300 BC. That’s the time when the Magyar and Finn languages were to have split. Which was also the time that the city...was abandoned, sacked, destroyed. The location is also good from the genealogy stand point...for R1a1 Haplogroup. Oh...I’ve finished transcribing the Jarfas side of the family tree. Cila has come up with more data for the Tuba side...and that is now also on a spreadsheet. She has a printout...and will make any correction. Oh...regarding the name “Tuba”: It’s been posited that perhaps it’s as simple as the name of the instrument...not! The Tuba was invented in 1835...in Berlin. We now have records dating to 1644...a one Tuba Balazs. That’s one generation back from Tuba Samu...dated 1687. Postdated March 11, 2009: I now have a "Tuba" reference dated 1224! Anyway...I’ll save this...and copy it over onto a flash card...and then attach it to an email...for Bill. Done deal. Velence...October 21st 2007. A sad fact is that people that see conspiracies all over the place...like the American’s never having gone to the moon...don’t realize that the mechanics of said conspiracy take more effort than the real thing. I bring up this subject because it...well...bugs me no end...how easily people are willing to believe absurdities. The other day it was the result of having seen...on TV...the bit about the letter “C” being visible on a rock...or as it goes...a none rock...that was supposed to have been placed face down...on the fake moon landing set. Well now...think about...There is the crew of maybe ten guys placing all the props...and their supervisor. And there would be another ten or so guys placing lights and running wire...and their supervisor. And there would be another crew hoisting the moon lander. There would be guys bringing in and spreading the fake moon dust...under the direction of the set designer. There would have been...at some point photographers taking progress shots...and test shots to see how the whole thing looked. Oh...there would be a crew...working with the photographer...setting up the...wait for it...single, very high powered light source...simulating the Sun. There would need to be an astronomer on hand to make sure that the light was set at the precise height and angle...as it changes second by second. We wouldn’t want someone later calculating said height and angle...and declaring the photographs as fake...now would we? This light source would have to be the same size and brightness as the apparent size and brightness of the Sun. If it were not as bright...or just the right size...someone could calculate...the depth of field...in the published photos...and conclude that they were fake...based on the fact that the lens aperture was opened wider than had it truly been taken on the Moon. So let’s see...have we got all the components together? Perhaps it would be best to lay out a time line of events...the various task that would have to be done. Find a place large enough to house the set. Shouldn’t be a problem...plenty of old unused hangers about. Get security worked out. Raising the question of a total sequestering of personnel...a closed base...for the duration...or fly them in and out as they were doing at the infamous Area 52...Groom Lake? Or for that matter...why not do it at Area 52? Mmmm? Work up a list of personnel required for the various tasks. Arrange for security clearances...and decide what levels. Those working at the later stages would have to have higher clearances. The guys delivering the fake moon dust wouldn’t need one at all...possibly. Where as the ones spreading it about the set...would. Speaking of which...the fake moon dust...as I understand it has a consistency of pumas or flour...and it’s very tenacious. Interestingly...the moon reflects light by the same amount as a standard 18% gray card used by photographers to simulate an average scene here on Earth...so you could not use ordinary white flour. And there is the problem of how the spread it out to make a believable moonscape. Rake marks would not be a good thing. Arrange for various cranes to hoist the large components...and astronauts on and off the set(s). Some of the work may well have to be done from a crane mounted platform...we can’t have tennis shoe prints all over place...now can we? Time will be critical in as mush as the “live” video broadcasts...or think about shooting the scenes...and playing back recordings for the public. Pick a crew to stand in for the real astronauts. Think about having to use the real controller...since their voices are known to the public...or get the real astronauts to do it...and get stand-ins to suit up and walk to the launch pad...waving to the crowds...visors down. And then launch an empty space craft(?)...but wait...what if the launch goes bad...and the craft splashes down in the Atlantic recovery area...and the Navy...find nobody in the capsule. So...what(?)...launch with fake astronauts onboard...and then have the launch go bad...then have the Navy find the imposters onboard. Either way...the Navy would have to be in on the charade from the beginning. On the other hand...as I recall...the spacecraft made an orbit or so around the Earth before heading for the Moon. Would you risk three lives...just to fake a launch? Better yet...launch an empty spacecraft...circle the Earth a few times...then bring it back...pretend to do a recovery...by simply taking the impostor astronauts out on the recovery ship...and put them secretly onboard one of the helicopters...have that helicopter go out in advance of the real recovery team...dump them in the sea...and wait for the others to arrive. This also bring up the question of exactly when you confide in the astronauts the truth. I mean...were the Mercury launches real? What about the Gemini program? Were the Apollo astronauts told early on that they would not in fact make it to the moon...that it would be faked here on Earth...on a fake set...at some as yet unknown abandoned airbase. And if told early...that they were to continue with their normal training...and the photo ops for public consumption. Ok...so there we are...the fake moon dust has been brought in and spread around...and landscaped...to look like the moon...as though one knew what it really looked like. Then placing the fake stones and boulders...by crane...otherwise you have to redo the landscape again...with everyone watching. Yes...that stone goes there...that boulder over there and so on...and with the standard admonition...of “make sure the letters are face down“. These being the letters that were painted on each stone and boulder...which designated their location...based on a girded map of some sort. This would...of necessity be a labor intensive operation. Think about it...there could easily have been a few hundred objects to place. Ok fine...so there we are placing these fake stones and boulders...with more that a dozen people watching every move...when the large stone labeled “C” is being placed. This raises the question of what order these object would be placed...alphabetically perhaps...Then you would have to believe that the third object placed...the one labeled “C”...was placed letter showing...AND NO ONE CAUGHT IT! Not any of the crew...not a single supervisor...not a photographer...NO ONE! Time passes...days if not weeks...go by...and again, during all the opportunities to view the set...does anyone spot the big letter “C” painted on the fake large rock? NO! Photos are taken to show progress...and the photographers take a bunch of photos...changing angles...and exposures just to see the effect. They turn the negatives over to the photo lab...and they develop and make a number of sets of prints. Note, that colors positive film was also used. Anyway...the lab personnel look over the prints...with instructions to find any faults with the results...no matter how small or insignificant it may seem...SUCH AS...if the painted letters identifying each rock and boulder were visible. NOPE...the prints all pass scrutiny...and are passes on up the line...where...NOT ONE person so much as asks what the letter “C” is doing in frame so and so. Now...we have another problem...The Brits are...as always...interested in this kind of stuff...and have let it be known that they intend to track and monitor the transmissions emanated by the space craft in flight and from the moon...using their large dish antenna at Jodrel Bank. These transmissions would be the telemetry, voice and video signals that would normally be sent back to earth. They would in effect listen in on what’s going on. What to do? It would mean shooting all the fake video ahead of the flight...placing the...at the time large and heavy video...playback unit onto the spacecraft...and launch it. You would use the normal telemetry from the command module during the trip...but from the Lander once their on the surface...and there you have it. The Brits will confirm that there are in fact signals coming from the moon. I have no idea how much tape it would have taken to provide a continuous stream of data and video for the entire time that the lander was on the moons surface...but it would have been an unimaginably large amount...weighing more than the astronauts and perhaps more than could have been sent up in the first place. The tape deck would have to be huge...to accommodate a reel of tape sufficient for the duration of the stay. There is now another problem. The moon lander cannot crash! Why you ask? Well...if it crashed...then the astronauts would either die on impact...or...and this gets very tricky...there would have to be communications with Earth...to the effect that they have a problem...and they would in fact die sometime later. Hence the real astronauts...still here on Earth...would have to go into hiding...new identities...the whole nine yards...never to be heard from again...along with their families! If the telemetry showed that, the craft survived the crash...but damaged to the extent that it would never take off again...then the video and dialog between the moon and Earth would have to match the facts. So...you say...Well...why couldn’t they shoot video...on the fake set...covering just such an event? I guess you could...but you’d have to write a complete script for all the possible circumstances and ask only those questions for which the appropriate responses had been scripted. This doesn’t come close to the problem of cueing up the tape fast enough to make it sound real. As I remember...The Brits successfully monitored the transmissions from the moon. And I suspect that the Soviets did too. But you say...ok...the Americans did launch a spacecraft...it did go to the moon...BUT...they never actually landed. Well...nice try...I say...But what was the spacecraft doing once at the moon...just sitting there? No...it would have to have been in orbit around the moon...spending half the time behind it...half in front facing Earth. Transmissions could not be received while the spacecraft was behind the moon...and both the Brits and Soviets would have reported it as such...GUARANTEED! Unless...they were in on it too! The Soviets would have had a field day for its propaganda value...and I think the Brits for technical capability...and perhaps as an unofficial umpire. And on top of all that...of course you would now have to destroy all the film images you’ve shot on the fake set...and get this...NEVER let a single photo get out! So!...There we have it...all the way down from the President...Secretary of Defense...the Joint Chiefs of the Staff (military)...a number of select Admirals and their commands...down to Captains of the various ships...the pilots of the recovery aircraft...the paramedics plunging into the water...all in on it. Then the entire crew setting up the fake moonscape...The photographer...the lab technicians. The governments of at least three countries...and who knows who else...ALL IN ON IT. Wouldn’t it be easier to just do what you’d set out to do...Go to the moon...land...and come back with real photos...as they did. And that on a given frame there is an odd looking shadow that looks oddly like the letter “C”...SO WHAT? This reminds me of the “Face on Mars” conspiracy. Yeah right. An orbiting spacecraft...with limited resolution...images a land formation on Mars...that granted...looks...under the prevailing lighting conditions...like a caricature of a human face. Ok fine...Why not say...”Oh...look at that...how interesting!” No...it’s a construct of some civilization! And as proof...NASA et al...refuse to take better images...since they know the truth. Of course it's illogical! Well here we go again. It’s got to be more complex...the simple “truth” is just not good enough. NASA or whom ever controlled the spacecraft said in effect that they had no intentions of re-imaging that piece of Mars...just to satisfy the CTs (conspiracy theorists). Well that did it...The CTs had a great time with it...BUT then a year or so later...the now famous Martian constructed landform WAS re-imaged...and guess what...on the latest much higher resolution images it’s impossible to find anything that remotely looks like anything other that what it was all along...just a bit of oddly shaped land that yes...under certain lighting conditions and low resolution...did look like a face. So what? There is a coffee table book published a number of years ago full of images of Earth taken from space. I’ve forgotten its name. But I remember scanning it one day...and on a frame of ice flows in the arctic regions...there was a face...in the ice...that was many, many times better than the face seen in the Mars photo. I never heard anyone talking about the “Face in the Ice”. I wonder why? Well now...could it be that since the photo was probably dated...that there would be no trace of it now...hence no use going around claiming a cover up...I mean it could have been the manifestation by the ancient Atlantisites...as a sign the they were now residing in the arctic regions...and for us to come and visit. This was one place that would have been possible to locate...and actually go there and see for yourself...NO? I guess not! Had the same image been take in the Martian polar region...it would have been a sensation...I kid you not! Just for the hell of it...it would have been great fun to have slipped that image in with the other Mars photos...just to see what would have happened...wait a year or so...and then reveal the true origin. Then again...Flash on this... The ice face photo is mixed in with the Mars images...and the CTs are on it in a heart beat...ok...fine. Then you reveal the true location. Would the CTs confer onto it the same “logic”...that is...that a civilization constructed it...ok...not on Mars...be here on Earth? Or is their “logic” selective...and as I stated above...no longer there...and soon forgotten. I would love to hear the “explanation“. It’s been a coldish day...here on the Lake. I did have to make a run to the store. No big deal. I’ve not been online all day...now almost 1800hrs. I feel a bit better...I’ve taken three hits of some medicine that Cila was kind enough to bring me the other day. Some kind of lemon flavored drink mix. Mmmmm...yum yum. I did manage to image the ISS the other night. Not too shabby. The orientation could have been better...but I have no control over that. I am now shooting at ISO400 and 1/250 sec. exposure...tripod mounted. Need to figure out a good way to shoot it with the Celestron 2000mm. The problem is that the only way to “aim” the things is to use the finder scope...which would need to be precisely aligned with the main scope...and not a real problem. Then...and here is the tricky part...getting it into a position such that one is able to track the ISS at high angles. Complicating this is the fact that finder scope...shows an inverted image...up and down...left and right are reversed! Plus I don’t have a mount high enough to get under it for high elevation shots which would be the best. I’m thinking that if I was to enlist Istvan’s shoulder...no...too low...something like that but higher. It may mean constructing something along those lines...and I wouldn’t have to ask for help...and not finding one at a moments notice. Did a lot of reading online yesterday...about the Magyar language. Interesting stuff...and of some help in understanding the problems. Managed to stay online...don’t ask me how. Got an email...sometime back now...from a guy that was making the scene in Seattle...back during my photographer years. Claims to have known Katy P. ooookkkkkk. Velence...October 22nd 2007. It’s god awful...Hungarian paint thinner...aka Palinka...damn! Just took a sip. WUUFFF! 100 proof. Ok...it’s a little early for a drink...but... It’s a moody day by the Lake. Cloudy...the sun arguably trying to shine through...now and then. Seeing Crows and Magpies in the area for the first time. I’d seen them farther to the west earlier in the year. I’ve got some forms that need to be filled out...said that I’d do it over the weekend...but didn’t...and don’t feel like doing now either. Sometimes...doing nothing is sound strategy. Damn!! Another sip!! I’ve got a haphazard pile of negatives on my desk that I should scan...but I sure would like to correct the problem I have with the inconsistency I’m experiencing. It’s as though the sensor sees into the infrared giving false densities. I tried setting the scanner up as though it’s scanning color negatives...and that seems to work sometime...but still not what I would have expected. Time has passed... Back from trying something with the scanner. I set it up to scan the negatives as positives...which I then invert. Also nailed the exposure. It’s workable...BUT damn...I hate the idea of having to go back and re-scan a hundred plus negatives. It’s labor intensive...load negative strip...insert...call up pre-scan...look at negative image and decide if it need exposure correction...set...call for final scan...wait to finish...bring up PhotoShop...find image...invert image...look...save. Nine hours have passed....Have been re-scanning negs. TTPTBS Velence...October 23rd , 2007. Big day in Hungary...Remembrance day...October 23. 1956...the revolt. More thoughts on the fake moon set. Why was the alphabet used...as opposed to numbers? Letters used one at a time would only be good for 27...OK...fine...but then why so large? I mean you’d think that a label with letters about a inch high would be more than enough. And if I were fabricating these fake rock and boulders...I’d make one side flat...and it would be on that flat side...the side that will be down...that I’d have placed the label...out of sight...And for that matter...I could have added text to the effect...”THIS SIDE DOWN!”...no? So...here I am...“a nobody“...and I can shoot holes in the conspiracy...how can so many people not think of it too? The other point claimed be the CTs as proof...has to do with the photos taken supposedly on the moon...not showing any stars. As in since the sky is dark...you should see stars...right? Damn...that’s something I’m qualified to address. See...it’s like this...as I said above...the Moon’s surface is essentially gray...17% reflective. When you consider that the moon is illuminated by the same Sun as here on earth...exposures will be about the same as here. I say about because I’d guess that it’s in fact a bit brighter since the moon lacks an atmosphere...less attenuation of the light...and virtually no scattered light...casting sharp shadows...and a jet black sky. Now... Velence...October 25th , 2007. It’s been a slow day...Got up real early...coffee...back to bed...up again at 0730hrs... Cloudy...rainy...The sat shot shows clouds all over the place. Started filling out the forms...need more data. Got off an email to “A”. Yesterday went grocery shopping...and I no sooner got back that the phone rang...Jutka...going grocery shopping and wants to know if I want to go grocery shopping with her. Hell yes. Then back to her place...my base one...this being base two...to translate some legal documents...English to Hungarian....Power of Attorney and Last Will stuff. Done deal...she says she’s got some Palacinta (Hungarian crêpe) batter made up and did I want some. Hell yes. Must of have had seven or eight with apricot jam. They were small ones...hence the consumption count. Delicious! Jutka is a great cook...hands down. Later...back here...the phone rang...Someone looking for Cila...I find out later...but asks if I’m Pityu...as in the voice she hears at this end...No I say...in a hoarse voice...because of the bug that’s been going around. Thinking that she wants to talk to Pityu I start to give her his phone number. I’m living in Cila’s house. Cila and Istvan are living in what is now Pityu’s house...it was the Tuba house occupied by my aunt Juci...my father’s sister and Pityu...and Cila and Istvan...for the last few years... taking care of their mother until she died...earlier this year. This house...Cila’s...is on the same property as the old house...a virtual stones throw away. The old house faces the High Street...and this one Kemping Street...the coast road. Now...Cila rides her bicycle to and from work...and she prefers to do so on Kemping Street...which means that she walks her bike through three gates and then along a walkway past this house and then on to Kemping Street were she heads East. Same but in reverse after work. So on some days I see her both going and coming. Lately...months...she been compelled to work till such time that she arrives back here at 1830hrs. “No...No!” she says...and goes on to ask to talk to Cila. I tell her that Cila is at work. “At works?” she asks incredulously. Yes I say...and add that she should be back around 1830hrs. “1830hrs!” she repeats. “Don’t you mean 1630hrs?” she asks. No not 1630hrs...1830hrs!” I say. Gads...we’ve already done this once... I try to give her Pityu’s phone number...as in that‘s the number that she will in the end get to talk to Cila. ”I just tried that number...with no answer.” she says. Postdated 3rd Dec. 2009: This person looks to be a good candidate for the "CONSPIRACY CLUB". Facts and logic mean nothing to her. The "fact" that no one answered the phone at the number she dialed could mean a number of "logical" things. She missdialed...and there was no on there. She dialed correctly and there was...in fact...no one there to answer it. There was someone there but couldn't answer it. And of course...I could have given her a wrong number...which logically bring us back to the missdialed scenerio. It had not been three minutes before that I saw Istvan walking his bike through the last gate heading for Kemping Street. I didn’t go out to talk to him as I sometimes do. At last I convince her to trust me on this one...try Pityu’s number sometime after 1830hrs. It was now about a month and half a go that the phone rang... It was a telemarketer trying to get me to sign up for a language course...wait for it...English. I told her that my English was already pretty good...no thanks...switching from Hungarian to English half way through the sentence...which caused a double take on the other end of the line. Hang up. Thirty seconds later the phone rings again. Same person as before trying to get me to sign up for an English language course. This time I responded in English from the get go. Continuation... ...casting sharp shadows...and a jet black sky. Now... So there you are on the Moon’s surface with a camera in your hand...loaded with some Kodak Ektacrome color film. What settings are you going to use...for the shutter and lens diaphragm? Well...you’d set it for about the same settings as you would here on Earth on a clear bright day. If I were to make the settings...shooting Ektacrome...I would cut the actual exposure by another 2/3 stop. This is to insure that we don’t overexpose the highlights in our scene. So far we’ve not taken into account the lack of atmosphere. Since I don’t know for sure what the attenuation factor is...let’s just leave it out of the equation. We do this because the same lack of attenuation will make the stars that much brighter too. So it’s a wash. I do suspect though that the actual exposure will be a bit less yet...perhaps another 1/3 stop. So basicaly...go outside on a bright sunny day...set your camera for a normal exposure. Then...not changing it...the settings...go outside at night...point your camera at the sky...make an exposure...and see what you get. What you'll get is...wait for it...NOT A SINGLE STAR TO BE SEEN! Velence...October 26th , 2007. Another cloudy morning. Up early again. Speaking if things that don’t translate well...we have Democracy. The founding fathers of America were men of standing. They had wealth...land, enterprise, culture and intelligence. What they wanted was equal rights for themselves relative the titled aristocrats of England...and the arbitrary proclamations of the King. They had something to lose...including their lives should their revolt fail. They knew that...and were prepared to fight and die if it came to it...to gain their inalienable rights. "Handing" democracy to a peoples is not going to work. Velence...November 3rd , 2007. The rest of the family is attending the burial services of Tuba Rosa...who died the other day...just after prayers...aged about 80. She was on the Family Tree of course. The weather the last few days have been mostly sunny...and I’ve been out on the deck reading Steven J. Gould’s “Wonderful Life”...“The Burgess Shale and The Nature of History.” I continue to read Heller’s re-published (1994)“Catch 22”. Now...what are the odds that I would come across the...now...phrase “Catch 22” in Gould’s book...so far three times? I have no idea. It was passed along to me that there was a photo contest in progress and that I should enter. The cut off day was the 31st of October. Ok fine. The word was that one could enter 10 photos. I started out with 50...and whittled it down to ten. When it came time to upload said photos...all hell broke lose. We did the upload at Bela’s house with three of the girls helping. I could not have done it without their help. We managed to upload three photos...but no more. That was on the 30th ...on the 31st we tried again without luck. I had the idea that we should try to overwrite one of the photos with a now smaller file size. We managed to upload it...but...it was in the wrong category from the first...and hence wrong. So now we had two photo that were for all practical purposes the same. Phone calls were placed and in the end managed to get one of the dupes removed...but it was the first one loaded...the larger file...though in the right category. After that more attempts were made to upload more photos...all without success...and thus it stood into the deadline. Three photos...out of ten possible. Obviously had I known...I would have picked others for the final three...But I also realized that as most of my photos would go into one category...they would...in effect...be competing against themselves. The entire problem revolved around that fact that the organizers wanted to limit the entries to non-professionals. Great. There method...ill conceived...in my opinion...was to put strangely artificial constraints on the files containing the images. There was a condition...of the raw file not being greater that 2MB...at the same time...the expanded “jpeg” was to be no larger than 6MP (pixel)! Half the time the upload failed at their end...kicked back...and the other times Windows reported a problem with the website. If I’d have known all of this...I wouldn’t have entered in the first place. I looked at number of already uploaded photos and there were a lot of nonstarters...just snap shots...in my opinion. Well...the winners will be announced at the end of the month. My desk is littered with negatives...that I need to go over...for ultimate scanning. The system I’m now using seems to work. All I need now is inspiration. I have the 8th hanging over my head. That’s when Imre and daughter leave Jutka’s. At that time the plan was for me to move back there. GADS! The thought does not appeal to me. Velence...November 4th , 2007. It’s one of those mornings where you know it’s going to be on the cool side...windy...no fun. Yesterday’s highlight was a hot air balloon off in the distance. Did some reading out in the sun. Later I got online and Googled “Magyar”...the language. Interesting reading...but damn...a lot of bias. Reading S. J. Gould’s book about the Burgess Shale...and you discover that some things have to start out as just an idea...based on observations...your observations...and let the chips fall. Same thing with the origin of “Magyar”. The thinking has been all over the place...like it’s connection to Finnish. Ok fine...but the split was to have occurred 4300 years ago! And even I can see no like words! That’s one hell of a long time ago...no? It’s been said that if you could bring an ancient Magyar speaker back...to now...he would understand you. No so with most other languages. I’ve spent some time thinking about how one starts a language. I mean...do you start with the rules...or the words. Magyar is in some ways very logical. Everything starts with a root...and expands from there. How do you come up with that? Magyar doesn’t sound like most other languages either. Interestingly...there are Inca words that seem to have more in common with Magyar words than Finn. I do not believe that the two languages Inca and Magyar have anything to do with each other...but it is interesting. It’s quiet...even when it’s loud. It’s also purely phonetic. No surprises...no broken rules that prove the rule. Which by the way I’ve never understood. Anyway...sometime way back...a group was speaking it...and seems to have hung on over millenniums...of interactions with other speakers. So again...if Magyar and Finn split 4300 years ago...for how long before that were the combination spoken? The Magyars were supposed to have come from the east...west of China...but Magyar is about as far removed from spoken Chinese as one can get. A language in isolation? How was that possible? Then again...there is the middle east connection. Interestingly...or I guess not surprisingly...Magyar is an ancient language. To paraphrase Cila...when groups split...their life experiences are different...seeing new...and different flora and fauna...hence giving them different names. The old words remain. So in some sense these new words are an indication of how far back the two were common......... I know that I’ve got a number of unfinished thoughts up page...but they will wait. The sun is making it’s debut...for the past hour. Good light. I’m trying to drain one of the D200 batteries. I think about the universe...life...the creatures of the Burgess Shale...their brains. It seems to me that it’s the brain that one must think about when looking at those ancient creatures. There must have be a time when the first brain cells got together...and did what...I ask? Well...I can imagine that some...if not all the cells...were light sensitive...temperature sensitive...pressure sensitive...and were in a sense able to “taste” their surroundings...smell if you will. It’s a little known fact the most if not all semiconductor junctions are light sensitive. An unshielded brain cell...if sensitive...would not do in the long run of evolution...hence the need to encase it...which is also a good thing since the brain as such needs to be protected. Later those cells that will become rudimentary eye...would be placed as close the brain core as possible. The organisms survival depends on the quickest response to external stimuli. Not good putting eyes at the tip of your tail. The human body can be thought of as nothing more than a vehicle of locomotion...for the brain. Four of the five senses’ sensors are placed very close to the massive brain mass...In effect...they are part of an extended brain core. The sense of touch and temperature comes from the other parts of the body...the skin...which by the way is the largest organ. I don’t like the old question about which came first the...etc...etc. Random thought: There must have been more that one! Thousands or more. It would have started with similar “individuals”...whose juxtaposition served a common good. CHANGE OF SUBJECT (COS). I have a problem with Drake’s formula regarding the number inhabitable planets...vis-a-vis SETI. It seems to me that the one factor...the one dealing with technology...doesn’t take into account the question of the “need” for that technology. I mean here we are trying the listen for radio transmissions from some supposedly superior civilization that also happened to “invent” radio. If we examine our evolutionary path to radio...we notice that it was driven by profit motives...not simply an intellectual exercise. In this sense I mean profit motive as to gain some advantage. When the telephone was “invented” there were those that couldn’t see why you’d want to use it. Things worked just fine for those people. When the copy machine was “invented” there were those asked...what for! The list goes on and on. Now suppose that on this planet out there...the beings really didn’t need to talk long distance...their system of communication REALLY did work just fine. Pushing it a bit farther...they actually could have built radio equipment...but REALLY saw no need to do so...even though they hypothesizes the possibility of other beings...on other planets. On another planet...the need to communicate over longer distances was there...but because they were superior beings...they went right to fiber optics. But wait. They would have to have the raw materials necessary to make not only the glass fibers...but all the other bits and pieces that make it work. I suppose that they could do nothing more than make and run the fiber...and then light a candle...and flick it at one end of it...while someone looks into the other end. Then there is the question of whether these beings could hear...hence the need for audio capability...or sight...in which case video capability...or what? Then there is problem of manufacturing the components...of what we call electronics. Even if one could hypothesize the feasibility of radio...could they build the actual hardware. When it comes to really high power radio transmission...currently here on Earth...it’s basically vacuum tube technology. And...the size of these “tubes”...or at least some parts...are dictated by physics. That is to say that you can’t make a let's say 400Mhz...transmitter that’s capable of reaching across the galaxy...the size of a shoe box...and powered by the equivalent of a “D” cell battery. Velence...November 5th , 2007. Where was I? The point I’m trying to make is that some things will...based on the laws of physics...need to be a certain size...no matter who makes it. It’s been said that a dish the same size as the one at Arecibo...1000ft diameter...could...now...detect a dish the same size...anywhere in the galaxy. Some years ago...that same dish was used to transmit a message into outer space. At the frequency used...it was the brightest thing in the sky. Anyone tuned to that frequency would have taken notice seeing it. Seeing it in the sense that his receiver would have shown an extremely strong signal...relative the background. So then I have to ask...what kind of capabilities would be required to build such a large dish...and for that matter all the rest of the equipment? That dish has a spherical surface. A parabolic dish would be better yet. Do they have a basic knowledge of geometry...in order to calculate its surface? For the matter...do they have an active industrial base from which to draw the necessary materials, iron, steel, aluminum, copper, silver, gold, silica...can they create a vacuum...can they produce electrical power...can they work the materials that they...what...mine? If we humans didn’t have to eat...we wouldn’t need a lot of what man has and is doing. If we didn’t want to live just anywhere...year round...there would be less yet. Velence...November 6th , 2007. Yesterday about 2000hrs...I was out on the deck for a SB...when Cila, Istvan and Pityu came trucking by. Cila asks if I want to come along to Jutka’s...in and out she said. OK...get myself together...lock up...grab a photo I had printed for Imre’s daughter...and out the door. We walked...I opted not to go by bike. I was planning on watching NCIS...at 2100hrs...which is one of two programs I like to watch...and though I’d seen the episode before...hey...it’s something to do. In and out she said...so I figure why not...go. Well...we get there and then Bela, Sari and one of the girls showed up and after awhile the stories start flying...mostly...Bela’s. Everyone had heard these stores numerous times...and Istvan does the color commentary with sidekick Pityu now and then. The stories are being told to me mostly...and I have yet to take my winter coat off...and it’s getting hot. I take an SB and note the time. The TV schedule here in HU Land is something to behold. I have yet to figure it out...But NCIS starts about a quarter past...so I figure I/we should leave no later that 2100hrs to get back here in time. WELL...back inside...more stories...time slips...and at one point I no longer look at my watch...having given up any hope. Somehow my story about the phone call trying to sign me up for English class came up...and before I could actually tell the story...Istvan was already embellishing it...as in they called three time...not the two in reality. Then I remembered that the other day at Bela’s...he and Cila showed up just as I was showing the girls pages from my website...and he volunteered that what I was doing on Okinawa and Thailand were...hush hush! NOT! Yes...another case of getting a vicarious thrill out of being the one to make a disclosure. Got back here at a quarter to 10pm. That “Math Crime” show was on...so I watched some of it. I noticed that Fleishman (Northern Exposure) has got a job again. Since the programs here are dubbed...you can’t tell how he comes across. He sure looks older. I also see that Data has a new gig. Had a big breakfast this morning...since I ran out of the cereal that I like...so it was bacon, eggs and hash browns. Just printed a shot of a Heron. Could have been a bit sharper. That photo started the last box of 20! Gads! I think I’ll place an order from UK Land...have it brought here when the car comes. Velence...November 7th , 2007. Big breakfast again...bigger than the last. More bacon...and onions this time. Oh...and cheese. What are the odds? Listening to “Bartok Radio“...105.3FM. And here is this conversation...and I pick up on...Heller...“Catch 22”! Cold and partly sunny...the light is good...but as I said it’s cold out there. Winds out of the west. Packed up the negatives...to kind of clear the desk. Reread a web page having to do with the Magyar (Hungarian) language. Some of it is pretty thick...I’d say...but interesting nonetheless. Part of the problem is that there are very few Magyar speaking linguists...and those trying to decipher ancient texts. If they are...they tend to be Magyar centric. The irony is that if what they believe is in fact true...it comes off sounding over the top. At a quarter to twelve Bartok Radio plays ethnic Hungarian music...for a short 15 minutes. Some of it...I find very compelling. Some of the themes sound very old and from far away. Some time later... It’s gone from partly sunny to overcast. Slow going as in...going nowhere...I ponder the universe. If SJG is right...and playing the “tape” again would change everything...then it could be assumed that on another planet...with arguably different condition...though close enough...would in fact not produce living entities that follow anything close to our survival based existences. Velence...November 9th , 2007. It’s a rainy day on the lake in HU Land. Continue to read about the origin of the Magyars. Turns out that I’m rereading a web page that I printed out for what is now the second time. Anyway...I believe that there was “Scythia(ns), which is called Hungary upon the (river) Don...”. To the east were the nations of Gog and Magog. “The people inhabiting it are still customarily called Don-Hungarians; they have never been under the yoke of any ruler. The Scythians are, namely, an ancient nation which has power over the east. Scythia’s first king was Magog, son of Japheth, and the nation obtained its name ’Magyar’ from him”. Entry date Dec 9,2007...The above is nonsense...re Gog, Magog etc. Velence...November 10th , 2007. Whitecaps on the lake. Email to the effect that my car will leave UK Land on 31 November...arrive 1 December. Jutka just called...Going shopping. This is good...I would have had to go sometime today anyway...and this is much better. 10 mins. Rereading the printout...Gads...it’s convoluted. Some of it sounds like that scene from Ghost Busters...where the character is explaining the history leading up the present state of affairs. Sounds great as it’s being rattled off...but what does it mean? One of the problems with any of this is that one is never sure of the writers agenda. Is what I want to know...to find out...simply a sidebar to the authors intent? Can I trust what’s being written? The other day...ok...yesterday...Istvan was heading out to intercept Cila coming home from work...and asks if they could drop in. Sure says I. They eventually do. I ask specifically about how it was that Arpad came to be the leader of the ten tribes...as they knew/understood...the facts...as I presumed they learned/read. Well...it got off on a few tangents right away. Namely that there had been forces that wanted to down play Hungarian/Magyar history. I made the mistake of stating that...as I understood it...the Magyars and Hungarians were a different bunch. Oh...no! Was the response. Interestingly...Hungarians don’t call themselves Hungarians...but Magyar. The land is not Hungary...but “The land of (the) Magyar(s)”. Then we have the case of Attila the...dare I say it...Hun. Well...the word Hun...as in Hungarian...is supposed to come from...Ungar...meaning “ten arrows“. The Ten Arrows were what Arpad was the leader of...as in the ten tribes...seven Magyar and three Khazar...under the auspicious of the Khanagate of the Khazars at the end of the ninth century AD...as a result of having been pushed out by the...wait for it...Vikings. Velence...November 12th , 2007. Sunny, cold and windy. Outside for a smoke break...look at the discone antenna...and note the rusting nut holding the disk to the cone. Think about the journey. Having started with APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) from US and Russian...and even a Chinese satellites now over twenty years ago. The time, money and energy that I put into it...Gads. To the point though...the fact that there was some interference in Seattle from a number of sources. I had to designed and built a number of filter to reduce the interference...with some success. Then the geostationary satellites...GOES series...Then HRPT...(High Resolution Picture Transmission)...more filters...this time the interdigital type. Then in UK Land...I resurrected a quick and dirty set up for GOES...it worked. Then APT again. WELL NOW. I thought I had interference problems in Seattle...GADS...It was almost useless! And NOAA’s latest satellite was set to transmit on a totally new frequency. AND guess what...In UK Land...the pagers were wiping out the new frequency like I never would have believed...and no filter was going to help. So...now here in HU Land...Velence...It’s so quiet...you think that your receiver is inop. I need to bring over a proper receiver...but things are in limbo. It’s been another slow day as I ponder the pages that I’d read the other day. Some clarity...some mudding of the waters. “The Khazars...man...the Khazars!” The Khazars are the key to the whole thing. Another crimson sunset. A jagged line of red on the distant horizon...as yesterday. The sun...as a fire. NCIS tonight. Seen it before. It was snowing a bit yesterday...more in other parts of the country. All I need is the car to be driven here in a bloody blizzard...and get it wrecked. The other day I spent at least an hour trying to identify Pityu’s “Roman” coin. No more luck than the last time. I see that Don Herbert died this year. His program had an unknowable effect on my life. Thanks dude...You’ll always be...Mr. Wizard. Also this year...at 101!!!...Bruce Bennett...aka...Herman Brix. 1928 Olympic Silver medal winner...Born in Tacoma...19 May 1906. A Taurus! As a screen actor...he was an early Tarzan...and in a number of westerns. Well...it’s for sure...I’m in the crazy time again. Not really worse than before...just as bad though. Upon reflection...it is different this time. The search for that perfect blossom. Velence...November 14th , 2007. Had to go shopping...and cash from a machine...and ran into Anci...talked a bit...and then ran into a Ildiko...Jutka’s neighbor...talked a bit. Yesterday I found another six web pages dealing with Magyar/Huns...etc. Printed...and read then. Well...Again some interesting stuff. Some of it...quite! I’ll need to reread it all...and take notes. Heard a noise...looked out...there was a boat in the drive...go out. Pityu, Bela and Istvan...bragging it into the yard. Okkkkk. Mind you...it’s dark out there...and cold. Now getting close to Cila coming home. I’ve been turning on the outside light so she can see her way past the house and onwards. The light’s on now. She calls to tell me that she made it ok. Anci was saying that she’d read an ad for a photographer...thought that I might be interested. Gads! No thanks...some sort of functions photographer...I told her that is was lots of work with low pay. She came back with...”you don’t know till you call”...yeah right. The last year that I worked was ‘94...I’m not about to start now. She couldn’t even say where the work was. End of story. Plus I don’t like to stand on the sidewalk...chit-chatting...about what ever. The weather’s ok...but that’s about it. I was right...it does come down to the Khazars. The Magyars...it turns out were Huns...that were mixed in with the Khazars. According to one source...if you want to find traces of Khazars...look no further...they’re right here in HU Land. Good old R1a1...Haplogroup. Everybody wants a piece of it. I get a real kick reading all the postings...claiming relevance. It’s House night...tonight. Listened to the last installment of “ The Skeleton Brigade” on the radio. Not sure I got it all...but I tried. Africa...French troops...and prisoners that in the end save the day. Stepped outside for smoke...and spot two heads bobbing...one wearing white...Cila. I make a big thing about waiting for them...they laugh. Chat. Hear Jimmy...I need to check the spelling...the not dog...but just Puli...barking. Thought that it may have heard Cila and Istvan...but no...it was Pityu...bringing me some wine. Thanked him and sent them on their way...beings that it was cold and all. I have yet to finish the last of the wine I’d gotten weeks before. I hate to tell them that I don’t really drink it...all that much. But as I think of it...maybe it’s the container as much as anything. A plastic bottle! It’s like drinking coffee out of a glass. One should not see the side...of coffee...just the top. Same thing...you should only see the wine naked...once it’s in a clear glass. To see it in a plastic bottle...is...well...like...where’s the straw? I shall say no more...forever. Velence...November 16th , 2007. I’ve been struggling with the question of languages...as in how do they come about. I mean I can’t imagine a couple of guy sitting around a camp fire...after a hard day in mock battles with your friends...and the topic of languages just happens to come up...and someone says...”hey...let’s invent a new one”. And before dawn...there you have it. A week or so later...everyone in your tribe knows it. Yeah right! How many people does it take to “come up” with a language? How long does it take? It must start with...a relatively stable population...I’d think...and not too large. But if that’s true...what did they speak before the new language was invented? It has to be that “it” was not invented...but evolved. Okkkkkk. What was the matter with the “old” language. How about...not wanting to be understood by the neighbors. Or...better yet........ A secret language! You have your language...but “invent” a new secret one. Now that makes sense to me. Most if not all of the rules are in place via the “old” language...so it’s just a matter of coming up with new word...And there is now the opportunity to “fix” a few...perhaps many “mistakes” and strange sounding words. From a survival/evolutionary perspective...it makes sense to be able to communicate...without being understood by your close enemies...whom also speak the old language. In fact I’d have thought that there would have just one (old) language. Everybody could more or less understand everyone else...Having more or less dispersed at about the same time from common stock. The people would learn the new “secret” language side by side with the old. Over time...they would probably use the new language more and more...because it was “better” than the old one...but would still use the old one in dealing with “outsiders”. The real beginning would have been the desirability of a secret language. It would have been obvious to those on a battlefield. In the heat of battle...You don’t want your enemy to understand that you’re going to send Bela and his boys around the left flank! That reminds me of a story. It would have been the Ballard house...1975ish. I was holding a basement sale. In came a couple with children...perhaps two...one a boy...about six or so. They look around...and at one point they stop just a few yards away...when. The man says something to the wife...using their secret language. He didn’t want me to understand what he was thinking about. Well! It just so happens that I knew his secret language. Interestingly...twenty years later I’m holding a basement sale...this time at the Phinney Ridge house...when in come this man and a younger one. Same guy...with his now grown son! Anyway...I digress...(always wanted to use the line)...So...Wolfgang and Attila are the chiefs two sons. They each have their “gang”...and they engage in friendly mock battles...almost every day. At night they hang out together with their respective gangs. One night Attila is replaying the days battle...and relates how it could have been a whole lot better had he been able to move his “troops” around...without Wolfgang hearing and hence understand what was about to happen. So he thinks he has a solution. He starts to tell them the sounds (words) that he will voice...and their meaning. After awhile they get the hang of it...and soon they are coming up with more and more words. The very next day they try the new commands...and win. Confused... Wolfgang is beaten. Flush with success...young Atilla...and his gang come up with more words to cover more and more complex commands. Some time later yet...Attila’s band begin to use the new words whenever they are together...not only when alone...but after awhile...in “public” also. They teach their girlfriends...though sworn to secrecy. The old chief learns of the success and much later hears them “talking” in camp...He is intrigued and likes the wisdom of Atilla and his band. One day a band of raiders is spotted and everyone is galvanized into action. The men gather up their weapons...and head for their horses...the women gather up the children and also arm themselves. The chief issues commands and some of the men go off in the direction of the raiders. Other groups are deployed closer to camp...the younger men...Atilla and Wolfgang among them...along with their band’s. Soon thereafter...the chief leaves with the main body of his warriors. He will be intercepted by his returning scouts...and told of the size and disposition of the coming enemy. A battle ensues...in the distance. Attila and Wolfgang would much rather have gone with the chief...but they know that their task is important also...and deployed themselves as they’d been taught. They waited. And so it was. The enemy had sent a quarter of their band in a wide arc in order to flank the chiefs main body...and planned to attack his camp...at a point that was now guarded by Wolfgang and his men.......... 2nd of May...2008. I’m proofreading...and have re-thought the above scenario...as not very good...in light of new research...hence not completed. Forget it. Velence...November 17th , 2007. Late in the day. It’s cold...tried to snow. Went shopping. Jutka call...asking if I want to go shopping with her. Not this time...thank you very much. Invites me for lunch tomorrow...1300hrs. Don’t know if it will interfere with Cila...as in Cila may come over with the latest FamTree data. Playing “the” tape. It hurts. I’m a wreck. We’re having bad thoughts again. Intense. Bill will know. Playing the tape over and over. Stepped outside for a SB...spot a form flying into a tree...Just about the time I was going in to grab the camera...it took off. A bird of prey that seems to live close by...Seen in before. Either a Sparrow hawk or a Goshawk...have to look into it. “A” contacted me yesterday...asking about her ongoing problems re her website. I have her call me. Then she comes back with asking for my number...Just as I struggle to get the phone over here by the computers...along with a piece of paper with my phone numbers...the phone rings. Her system had crashed sometime back as I understand it...and had to replace the hard drive. The only up to date copy of her web pages are on her machine...I’d taken them all off of mine...as they are useless...and dangerous...in that if I were to “publish”...I would be overwriting good pages with bad ones. So I’m online and get Skyped...text...asking about her latest attempt to publish. Well it doesn’t work...as much for the fact that the downloaded copy of the software she’s using had expired! Later...Emails back with...do I have a copy of her web pages...(sic)...and some sort of registration number...that she’s sure I have...that she would then use to get a better price for the software that she must now buy. I keep telling her that when I bought the software...it was at a store...not online...as a download. Total package is $100...now...what’s the big deal? I don’t remember what I paid originally...as in 8 years ago. And this is coming from the same person that told me...told me mind you...that she told her sisters that if anything happened to her...they were to notify the authorities! It was a sign of real class...telling me. As if the authorities wouldn’t think of the ex as a suspect! Oh...she’s mentioned more that once that she had someone do one of her websites...and this last time again...how one was asking 300 GBPs while the other...300 Euros...or something like that...adding that she couldn’t afford it. So what was my time worth when I was doing them...for seven years? Poetic justice in a way. It’s sad...there is so much beauty in the world. You just have to stop and look...and listen. The tape. Lights on for Cila. Best score so far...re...Solitaire...70! I thought that 120 was hot...but that was years ago on another machine. Velence...November 18th , 2007. Ernesto playing in the background. I keep hearing noises outside...but every time I look out...front...side...nothing. This goes on for a number of cycles. Then I sense that there is warmth to my left...the radiator...touch it...HOT! That can only mean that Istvan has been stoking the furnace with wood. Much later. Back from Jutka’s. Good food. Chatted. Same old issues. Tired. Velence...November 19th , 2007. After I’d gotten back...Cila called to tell me that she’s arrived ok...hence I could turn off the light. The day before I turned it off at 2030hrs...It turns out that she'd stopped by at Bela’s...and didn’t get back till 2300hrs. She figured that I was asleep by then...damn right. Then the phone rang for the second time...I wonder who it might be? The voice asks...Pityu? Here we go again I thought. Same old scenario...someone looking for Cila...dials the right number...a male voice answers...(me)...they think it’s Pityu...because Istvan sounds different. I then have to go through the whole business of telling them that yes they got the number that they thought they had dialed...but that I’m living here hence they have to call...wait for it...Pityu! As in Pityu’s house. They sound incredulous. Trust me. It’s dead calm on the lake. The reflections are sharp. The sun is just now starting to show. It’s going towards clearing for the next day or two. Last night was the peak of the Leonids meteor shower. It was overcast...just my luck. Ernesto playing again. Interesting...The piece that’s playing is “La Paloma.” Well now...I first heard it over 50 years ago. It was part of our record collection...78s...in Germany at the time. Of course it wouldn’t have meant anything to have known that it was by Ernesto Lecouna and his “Cuban Boys.” The plot thickens. Back in Seattle long ago...I was listening to KUOW-FM late one night. The female announcer identifies the piece that she’d just played and comments that it comes from her private collection. I made a note of it...and a few years later I was able to get what would be my first of three or four CDs. The downside was that not one of the tracks on those CDs had that exact piece of music that I’d heard that night. It was a female vocalist singing what I was sure was “Mara La O.“ So...while that song was on the first CD...it was not the one I really...would have liked. Perhaps some day. Postdated 19 September 2009: I finally found it on YouTube just this month! Very happy camper...you know I am. As I look out over the lake when I’m out there on a SB...I take in the sights. The lake...the birds...etc. Then I’m reminded of all the times that the relatives show up...and we look out toward the lake...the comments always gets to the issue...actually two issues...of ...one...the construction of houses between us and the lake...as in it should never have been allowed in the first place...and two...how it came about the there was land on which to build said houses. It started with a land grab! Those in power had virtually stolen the land. The property on which this house is built...(Cila’s)...extended from the High Street to the north...all the way to the lake shore. At the north end is the old Tuba house. It was here that the OM grew up. Back then of course this house was not here...just land that was used to grow various vegetables...and livestock...terminating with a beach. Then under the commies...a good two hundred yards of beach...was reclaimed by filling it in with dirt. The property owner were paid a pittance...and of course lost the waterfront. The land was...at one time...supposed to be some kind of natural camp ground...trees and grass...etc. Well now...sometime later...while some of the land was used as planned...the rest was parceled out for house construction. Now the fun began! As I look to the southwest I see three identical house about halfway between the road...(Kemping Street) and the lake. The three house are smallish...and the space between them is just enough for a smallish car. These houses have something of a view of the lake...except for the fact that between those houses and the lake is some sort of administration building...I need to find out exactly what it is...it even has a flagpole. At the same time...there is a tall wall separating those properties from the admin property...effectively cutting them off from the lake shore. Bad enough...huh? It gets better. From here it’s been impossible to see yet...wait for it...another house being built between the admin building and three mentioned. Then just a week or so ago one could see the top of it...and it’s possible to ascertain the impact on the supposed view the three house had. GADS! Toward the south nothing but that house...to the southwest is another house...a large one that effectively blocks that direction. Almost due south...from here...is another house...again about halfway to the waters edge...but there is now a house that blocks its view. The people that bought these houses early must have thought that they were getting a nice deal...a view...and access to the lake. NOT! Not Anymore! The clouds are burning off as I write. I need to get online...and order some photo paper. I should get some toner too. Much later...Cila’s home safe...And I’m reading my printouts...The Thirteenth Tribe...interesting. Koestler is Hungarian...should have guessed. NCIS is looming. By the moon...it’s the start of my 4th Moon...here. Velence...November 20th , 2007. Off to Jutka’s...for lunch and some chores. Finished reading all the pages that I’d downloaded...TTT. Interesting stuff. Did some research on Koestler this morning and on IQs. Back later. Later...back. It looks like I’ll be going over again tomorrow...weather permitting. Turns out that I was going to do a bit of shopping today...and Jutka screwed it up for me. Now I’m looking at going back tomorrow...and guess what...that was the date she set for her going shopping...and I would have gone with her. So...we’ll see what happens. We may end up doing both. Later...Cila’s overdue. Sierra Tango...over...off...and clear....(STOOAC) Velence...November 23rd , 2007. Waiting for Jutka to call. I was up and outside for a SB sometime after 0500hrs...and greeted Istvan...going to work. Mentioned having talked to Jutka...adding that it’s on for today to cut down her tree. I plan to be there. Pityu is involved in as much as it’s his saw we’ll be using. So it will go down after he gets home. I think Istvan gets off early on Fridays. It was Istvan that called last night tell me that Cila got home ok...having done so by car. Read more downloads...It turns out that Genghis Khan is Haplogroup C. Arpad on the other hand is thought have been R1a1. Gads...I see that there are a few more articles to read...“The Genetic Legacy of the Mongols...and The Genetic Link of the Vikings- Era Norse to Central Asia: An Assessment of the Y Chromosome DNA, Archaeological, Historical and Linguistic Evidence.” The first one was a quick read. The other one is 40 pages. Stepped outside...and there was Cila coming down the street! It’s not even 1400hrs. Says that her Saturday-Sunday BS should be over with. And she’s ready to retire. Turns out Pityu won’t be back till 1630ish...his saw...and I say that the sun will be down by the time we get to Jutka’s. Cutting down a good sized tree is not something to be done in the dark. I shall now read... Velence...November 24th , 2007. As I thought...it was a no go. On for today. I think I’ll head over there soon. I need to build the frame. The gravel is on site...Istvan took a wheelbarrow over yesterday. Well...there you have it...Called Jutka...it’s on for 1300hrs. There has been a rash of deaths in the village...hence the same number of burials. Most of the family is going...not me...and that takes it up to sometime after 1200hrs. Much later... I’m back. The lads took out two tree trunks...stumps...and cut down a bigger tree leaving a stump...for possible use as a flower stand or bird feeder. Got the frame built and in place. When I left the lads were still tamping down the dirt...ready for the gravel...tomorrow...perhaps. Before I’d gone over I downloaded more web pages...and am now reading them. Velence...November 25th , 2007. Well...it’s raining enough to curtail work at Jutka’s. I saw Pityu this morning feeding his animals...and having just called Jutka...the lads did go over but have since retreated. I guess the plan is to wait and see if the rain stops. The site is probably muddy as hell. I continue to read...”Linguistic and Genetic Correspondences Between Slavs and Indian (Indo-Aryans) Provide Insights into their Pre-History.” I’ve gone and come back. The foundation slabs are down! Now...all that’s needed is a day or two of fair weather...and I should be able to get at least the floor and sides in place. The roof sections will take some help...and we need to decide what to cover it (roof) with. There are a few options. Making headway with the reading. Good stuff...some so^2. Help me Rhonda...help me Rhonda... Have not been online today. So? STOOAC... Velence...November 26th , 2007. Back for some time...The shed is upstanding! Ildiko...Jutka’s neighbor... was very taken by it. The last time she’d seen the shed...it was in pieces. I got there about 1000hrs...and by 1200hrs...it was done. Done as in there are few things that still need to be done...but no big deal. Just talked to Istvan...on his way to his mothers place...and then I guess on to escorting Cila. The reading is going well. Lots to comprehend...in order the see the big picture...as it were. Got an email...”A”...Katie...one of the cats...is going down for the big count...cancer! I wish she wouldn’t include these bits of news in her emails. It’s not as though I need to know...it’s not part of my life anymore. For that matter...I doubt that I will ever see “A” again...by design. Turns out that Ivan and Gabor will driving the car over...the end of this month. I wonder if “A” will have thought about sending the...what I now consider my...rings? If she forces me to bring up the subject...as in what...she wants to hold then hostage...so be it? NCIS tonight! Istvan...back...checked his mail...WAIT for IT...Cila’s got her retirement notification papers. She’s now...in theory...free. This will allow her a much needed rest...AND...will be free to continue the ancestors trail in Sukoro. I’m still waiting for the bits she already has in hand. I guess I wait. Well...the side light went out...so I turned on the front light...and opened the drapes...And then I stepped out to see if maybe Cila was early...she was...BUT are you ready for this...it’s bloody snowing out there...Istvan was white. Couldn’t tell about Cila...because she was wearing white. Called Jutka...asked her if she’d looked outside? She hadn’t. Anyway...everyone is home safe. It’s time...STOOAC. Velence...November 27th , 2007. It was just above freezing this morning. It looks like it snowed a bit more last night...but not much. I made a trip to the far store...I needed to get cash...and got there and back in one piece. There was ice on the road...so I had to be extra cautious. There is a strong cold wind from the west...which is bringing the snow. The sky is clear as of now. Forgot to get sugar! Cool stuff...huh? Much later... By accident I came across the full text of “The Thirteenth Tribe”...not the few scanned pages that I’d downloaded before. Reading it now. Good stuff. That is...it’s well written...but I can see the same old problems looming again. There are just way too many gaps in the history to really nail it down once and for all. The Soviets did a real number on the Khazars...that’s for sure. As in having nothing to do with Russian history. Yeah right...lets go into denial shall we. But that’s the other problem...Every writer seems to have a take on it...or is forced to keep within the “party line”...an agenda...as it were. Oh...Cila called to tell me she that got home ok...and that on Friday she will come over with “my” bills. She added that she was shocked...as best as I could make out...with the totals. Not to worry...I say. Jutka had called early on...saying the Lajos was there with a wheelbarrow...moving the aggregate from the front of the house to the rear...and I think she wanted me to come over and supervise. I had indicated that it would be good thing to lay one of the large concrete slabs...like the two that I’d stipulated for the foundation for the shed...in front of the shed doors. To do that would mean first leveling the site...with a load of said aggregate...the rest to be used later for whatever she’d wanted. I was not about to go over in the freezing wind...though I could have gone over to finish mounting the shed doors that are as of now just hanging by a screw or two. She misplaced the Philips screwdriver...one of two types that Lajos had brought over...and left there from the time that he was there to change out the front door lock...unsuccessfully I might add. That was months ago. Ironically...Jutka had just the type of screws that I wanted to use to mount the doors...but no screwdriver. She looked high and low...but did bring out a small...I mean...SMALL...tool kit...with really small tools...So I took the largest Philips and used it the start all the 9 Bugle head screws...getting a good turn on each. Later I dug out a small straight blade screwdriver from her garage...and managed another turn or two...and left it for later. I had also needed some nails...and I foresaw the potential need to go to the hardware store...where Lajos happens to work...thinking that I’d send Jutka to get some while I worked. It wasn’t even close to needing to do...she had plenty of nails...just the right size too...and I figured that I’d use the same...hammer/ax that I’d used just the day before. Sent Jutka to find it...She came back with a smallish machinists hammer! Couldn’t find it either....lost as it were. The reason Lajos was there months back...trying to change the door lock...was because Jutka had misplaced...forever...the keys. Velence...November 28th , 2007. It was below freezing when I got up this morning. Sugar is at a critical level...as in one teaspoon left...there is one cup in the cycle as I write...will get in soon. Thinking about going to Jutka’s...and hit the far store for sugar...and get some cash too to cover the coming bills Friday. The read continues. The picture is beginning to clear. Oh...in “A‘s” last email she also asked me to send her the shot of Joe that he and everyone else likes so much. Told her to search her drive for the file name that I provided...It would save me from having to try to send it...given my lousy internet access. Going for the Java. BIAF. Later...Where was I? Getting ready to go over to Jutka’s. Turn a few screws. Take some measurement. Gads...The sun has just gone down. I spent more time at Jutka’s than I planned by a factor of three. Got lunch out of it. Tired! The (D)200 was still on the tripod...mounted to it was the 300 2 8...so I got in a few frames. May get better over the next week...clouds permitting. It was cloudless today. I had Istvan turn up the heat a bit...the last time I saw him...so it’s at least warm in here. HOUSE night! Wow! I shall read now... Cila called to say she got home in one piece...she’s early again...this is good...and that Istvan had changed the light over the side door...it’s actually the main and ONLY door to the house...if you don’t count climbing over the railing to gain entry through the doors leading out onto the balcony...light. She went on to say that she would see me tomorrow...which I thought was a change from what she’d said the day before...when in the background I heard someone say that tomorrow was not Friday...at which point she...in effect...reiterated that which she’s told me the day before about seeing me Friday. That was not before I asked her again...from the day before...to state the time...in as much as I may be unexpectedly detained...as in...at Jutka’s. It was then that she was made aware of her mistake. The time frame she was talking about was sometime after 1400hrs...as that is the time she expects to get home...unless of course she’s unexpectedly detained. In which case she was to call...but I had asked her the other day to call...anyway. I just realized that I’ve been playing the same track over and over...which was not what I had in mind when I reset the play list. I know that this dialog is a cross between “Catch 22”...and “Lake Woebegone“...but I’m just going with the flow. Oh...it turns out that Lajos did not move said aggregate front to rear...but did move it back...leaving room for my car...in front. AND he did in fact fill in the area in front of the shed doors...so it was a pleasure to work there today. Ildiko showed up...and later came over to help Jutka with the cleanup of all the branches and twigs that resulted from having cut down a tree the other day. I don’t know if I’m hungry or not. Oh...I did get cash and sugar. Can’t have any coffee now...or I’ll never fall asleep tonight. Oh...Damn...the TTT printout is...on the bottom of some pages...incomplete...as in missing. I’d thought that the end of one page didn’t match the start of the next...very disconcerting. Enough to PoTP. I was. Ernesto Lecuona‘s...”Canto del guajiro En tres por cuatro”...”A la Antigua” and “Danza Negra”...among others. “Play it again S(h)am...” It’s -1°C as of now...and clear...no wind to speak of. Haven’t been online today so I haven’t seen the photos. Have been reading...it’s now time to pull the plug...STOOAC...See you all...tomorrow or whenever...same Bat channel...same Bat time. Velence...November 29th , 2007. It was -5°C this morning. The lake shows signs of being frozen...in places. Noon. Jutka called...Invited for lunch...and later shopping. Much later. Did lunch and had to listed to Jutka going on about her water bill...which I must admit is high...blaming it on a faulty...fast reading water meter. I told her that that seemed illogical...as in I could see a meter reading low...but for it to read high...would take a “doctored” meter. Months ago she was claiming the same thing...but at that time it was a leak in her pipes...causing the high reading. About that time...one day we went out to look at the meter...which by her reckoning should have been spinning like a top...was in fact dead stopped. So much for leaking pipes. Of the bills that she showed me...the highest one was for the months that she had the vacationing boy from Germany. I think there was five of then. Say a... Much later...Online...email...”A”...have some work to do... STOOAC Velence...November 30th , 2007. It was below freezing overnight again. More of the lake is frozen over. I’m tiered this morning...Got to bed late last night...as in today. Woke up having been dreaming...strange stuff...as in having to set the thermostat on the water heater...which I had to during the day. It had stopped...and had to be re-lit and set. Had hot water for my shower this morning. Finished TTT last night. Catch 22 is getting to the end also. I will be doing housework today. Need to get some milk too...forgot to get it yesterday while shopping. Also need to get more cash...tried yesterday...but the machine was being serviced. Did manage to generate a spreadsheet...and emailed it to “A”. The car will arrive here tomorrow afternoon. Later... Hit the store and got cash. It should be interesting what the bills look like. After seeing Jutka’s...I shouldn’t be surprised. I have 110,000. Forint on hand. Got the house in some kind of order. Later... Cila is overdue...or has arrived unnoticed...and has not called. Another fiery sunset...and it’s bloody cold out there...but I’ll take a shot at finding the comet...and perhaps drag out the 200 with some lens. Cila just called...says she got home a half hour ago...and that she’s too tired to come today/night...so it’s on for tomorrow...but Istvan had indicated that we should be going to Jutka’s tomorrow...?...with the rest of the lads...?...AND...the car arrives tomorrow...afternoon. Much later... Comet hunt went well. I went out with the 7X35 bino and as I was scanning the sky a satellite crossed my view...and THERE it was. I laughed. I then came in and remounted the 200 with the 300 2 8. Back outside took a number of frames. Then I heard a noise of someone from Pityu’s house...Jimmy the Puli was barking. I called out and finally got a response...It was Istvan. Told him that a comet was visible. He went back to the house and brought Cila out...Later Pityu showed up too. We “did” the comet and the Pleiades and Andromeda galaxy. I had to re-shoot since I was jarring the camera. In the end...I even printed an A3. That’s it for today... Velence...December 2nd , 2007. Yesterday Jutka called to say that the car was on its way...from Budapest. And that it would be around 1200hrs when it arrives here. I killed some time...and walk to her place. At first I didn’t see my car and thought that I had figured it right...as in I was early. Not the case...I couldn’t see my car because Jutka’s was blocking my view. Anyway there it was...after a 1100 mile drive...dirtier than I’ve ever seen it. Later I brought it here and unpacked it. Later yet Cila calls to say that I should bring the car around the block and park it in the compound. I do. Invited in...and was there till 2230hrs...talking...and wine. The plan was to go to Jutka’s this morning at 0800hrs...but it’s now 0900hrs...and no lads...and its’ drizzling a bit. It’s not been a good day. Now and then I’d see Pityu, Istvan and Lajos doing something...as the time passed. THEN Pityu show’s up with Istvan...with bikes...ready to go to Jutka’s. Great I thought...just an hour and a half of sunlight left. Sure enough we get there and look over the sheet metal that had needed to be bent. Well and good...and start to clean them...get them ready to solder closed the numerous holes. That’s when things started going down hill. It takes two hammers to beat the holes flat...and Istvan brought one smallish hammer and located Jutka’s in the new shed...making two...machinists hammers. I go down into Jutka’s garage and locate exactly what I wanted...a big sledge...and another hammer/ax combination. This one was not the one we looked for the last time. Beat out holes...Lajos is busy cleaning the sheets. The soldering is not going well...as in nowhere! Give up. Even if it had worked...It would have taken till midnight to finish then all...I exaggerate but not by much...trust me. Ok...so why not see how the bent pieces fit the roof of the shed? Ok...drag one sheet over...get it thrown over the peak...Nice fit. There is one problem...the sheet should have been bent the other way round. I have to back up here...The original plan was to have bent the pieces today...instead of rushing it yesterday...hence the screw up. Anyway it can still be used as is...or we could put it on the other side of the roof...but that would put the patch job on the side facing into the yard. Bela...who was to have joined the group...finally did show up. The sun’s down...pack up the tools...right? I’m worried that Istvan will make off with Jutka’s hammer. I know...it’s weird! So I grab the one I thought was hers and give it to her. NOW! Istvan shows up to collect his tools...fair enough...right...? The first thing he says is where is the OTHER hammer! NOT my hammer but as I said...the other hammer. Jutka is right there...and Istvan demands HIS hammer. If the truth be known...I’m not sure which is which...I would have had to handle them...inspect them...etc. Anyway Jutka give up the one I gave her...and got the other one in return. I wish I would have (1) marked Jutka’s hammer...(2) Let Istvan pick up all “his” tools...And then (1)...he gets it right...taking only his...or (2)...BOTH. THEN play out the obvious. I left ahead of the pack coming back...but I was still unlocking the door when Istvan arrives. WELL...He went on and on...and on...and on! I told him that he should simply mark his tools. Like in Duh! But no...on and on and on...some more. Then I see Pityu arrive...thinking that now’s my chance to make a getaway...Damn...he just passes right by...I say goodnight...Istvan notes the I’ve still got a cigarette burning...as an indication the I still have time to listen to him...going on and on and ON. I put it out! I must say that this pattern of behaviors goes way back...like a lifetime if you can believe it. But not in mine...so I’m getting tired of it. Same old thing...over and over...no end to it. Lajos was raging on Pityu...Istvan is in an other universe...Jutka...what can I say(?)...she’s...She has lived a lifetime...mostly depending on others...kin...for the major work needing to be done. She also sees herself as the driving force...as in nothing would get done if she wasn’t pushing it. Under different circumstances...I label her the squeaky wheel. Before the grape harvest...she wanted me to make some improvements to the wine cellar door. Ok I thought...I can do that. I took it up with the lads...but in the end I felt that they were not too interested in the project...perhaps as much as the fact they were busy plumbing a functional WC...which was a major job...AND it was none other than Jutka that was pushing for it to be done in the first place. She never lets up...Today we were standing around thinking...and Jutka comes over...and at one point...comments that she also wants a drain pipe...on the shed...to collect rain water. Well damn...we ALL knew that already! What was the bloody reason for saying it again. Catch 22! They’re all insane. Velence...December 3rd , 2007. I went to bed and though I tried not to think about the altercation between Istvan and Jutka over the hammers...I couldn’t. I then woke up thinking about it. Pissed me off...as it were...Not thinking about it...but just it. I began to wonder if there might be some way to prove...positively...one way or the other...which hammer belonged to whom. I have to rewind the tape a bit...first. I didn’t know it at the time...that there were holes in the sheet metal that would need to be plugged before they could be used for the intended purpose...that being to cover the wooden roof of the shed. Istvan and Pityu did...because they would have handled the sheets in order to bend them...and seeing the holes...Istvan brought...ONE hammer...knowing full well that it would take two. When the time came to start beating out the holes...Istvan asked for another hammer. He was directed by...I assume Jutka...to its location in the shed. I remember that at first he couldn’t find it and then just about the time I was ready to go look too...he did find it on the ladder that was laying on the floor. So far...so good. Now with two hammers in hand(s)...he proceeds to beat on the holes. After the fiasco of trying to solder the holes shut...we get the point of picking up all the tool. NOW...I know that there is an on going blood feud between Istvan and Jutka...so I...as in me...pick up what I believe to be Jutka’s hammer...it being the bigger of the two...and in a conspiratorial fashion...give it to her. I kick myself now for not making a note of the size of Istvan’s hammer...but that chance is lost. Second NOW. As I said earlier...Istvan says for all to hear...”Where is the other one (Hammer)?”...followed almost there after demanding its return. I seem to recall saying to Jutka to give it to him...which she...having taken it into the house does so. The rest I covered above. Third NOW...So I think about proof...Mmmmm...mmmm. Then it crosses my mind that...you don’t suppose I have a photograph...of the shed...where in it was possible to ascertain the hammer...Jutka’s...which I had used and left in the shed? I went back to bed...after some Java. And it just kept coming back. I finally did get up and at one point the idea came back too...check the photos! I had a day or two ago put all the shed photos in one folder marked...cleverly...”JutkaShed”. I remembered that I had taken shots of the shed with the doors open and closed...the closed ones would of course be useless. Though I’ve taken a camera along every time I go there...I may not take a single photo...which had been the case the last two times I was there...BUT...wait for it...The LAST frame I took...the very last one...there it was...shed...with door OPEN...AND with a quick flick of the wrist...I zoomed in. DAMN! There it was...a hammer! It’s going to take a bit of doing to nail down which hammer it truly is...so first I’ll compare it to the one Jutka has. There are enough data points to at least get some measurements that may well be close enough. The real problem will come as a result of the determination. If the hammer in the photo is in fact Jutka’s...then it’s a done deal...and I should tell Istvan that it was I that picked up the wrong hammer...etc. On the other hand...what if...it’s NOT? Velence...December 4th , 2007. It’s 0400hrs. Coffee. It was supposed to be sunny today...but I didn’t expect totally clear sky’s as I stepped outside for smoke. To the southwest was Venus...then a crescent Moon...and to the west southwest...is Orion...and in line with the two extremities was Mars...bright. Funny...I had noticed it the night that I photographed comet Holmes...and thought...what the hell is that?...Sometime later in the day I took a look at my star charts...but Orion was on one...and that which was above it was on another so I couldn’t connect the lines and gave up...unresolved as to the identity of the bright reddish light...I even photographed it...but threw them out...as in nothing to see...except that it did seem to resolve into a disk...but it was of course over exposed. Later still I was online...and on a website that I don’t go to often enough...there it was...Mars...right in line with Orion’s stars as I had noticed. Got to go to the store today sometime. So there is my...car...parked. Damn...three gates to get there...and another one to get out...open it...drive through...close it...what a hassle. And I have to contend with the Puli. Yesterday I took a shot at getting things organized...as in all the papers laying about. And then later...as in approaching 2100hrs...NCIS...I found a website from which I downloaded 13 web pages of various pages in length...Lots to read again. NCIS was a not that great...since I’d seen it before and it was not one of the best episodes I thought...crashed before it finished...Had set the time for 30 minutes...and didn’t hear the set turn off. Oh...took another look at the “Hammer” photo...and brought it up in PhotoShop...and I did a number on it. Looks a little better than the one I printed. I guess I will in fact take the car...and since I’ll be close to Jutka’s place...I’ll take the photo along...let the chips fall where they will. Got email...”A”...says that Ivan missed the train...and had to wait an hour! I had told Jutka’s not to screw around...BUT no...she has to have things her way. She’d wanted to take Ivan up to the lookout on top of the hill...and I said...don’t complicate things...Better to get to the station early...no? So...just for spite I say... she took Ivan to look at a house...TO LOOK AT A HOUSE!!!!...belonging to a friend of his back in UK Land...and he even called him from here. BIG DEAL! She made a point of telling me...”We went and looked at a house of his friend” she said...as in see...I did something real “cool”...and Ivan was thrilled to have done it...and...and ...and...blah blah blah. YEAH right...Ivan was thrilled to have missed his train...and was able to spend a glorious hour looking at the walls of the station. Or...he should have called Jutka and asked her to take him to that house again...It’s insane! Later...as in 0830hrs...I took the garbage can out to the street...that’s how I know it’s Tuesday...and on the way back I notice that Cila is on her way out...just getting to the last gate...of three. So I wait. After the usual stuff...she volunteers that the paperwork regarding her retirement is complete BUT...there’s a catch...AS IN CATCH 22!!!!!!!! She is to work for another...wait for it...TWO MONTHS!!!!! I’m just into the last twenty or so pages of the book...you know the one. Yossarian has just been told that they’re sending him home...BUT that there is a CATCH...as in 22!!! The plot revolves around the fact that the number of missions flown is being raised over and over again...and at one point Yossarian decides not to fly anymore. He can’t get out of flying unless he’s insane...and he can’t be insane if he says that he won’t fly...it being sane to not want to fly...Catch 22! Cila...same bloody rotten deal. Ten to one...that they will extend her again...watch this space...to see what happens. Her attitude is that she can put up with it...and they will re-calculate her retirement pay according...which is fine...if she doesn’t die of old age first. More sinister yet...ready for this...(?)...From what I understand Cila would get more in retirement pay than she now gets for working. Now lets see how the thinking goes at HQ...in HU Land. Post dated note...not true re pay. How can she make more for not working...they ask? Well she can’t can she...they exclaim? Hell no she can...HEY...I’ve got it...we get her to work another two months...and by then we’ll have enacted this new law...that says in effect that you can’t make more retired than when you worked. BRILLIENT someone say...they cheer...and break for lunch...after all it’s just 0900hrs and they’ve solved one big problem. Then...I thought I’d head over to do some shopping as I said...and hit Jutka’s also...with the car...which is locked up in the compound...guarded by the Puli. Cila says...before I have a chance to say my piece that Pityu will need to get at his car...which mine is currently blocking. I ask what time and she say 1600hrs-ish. I say that’s fine...but I want to use the car today. She say that I should ring the other house in as much as Anci is there...so that they can help with the gate...and corral the Puli...while I move the car. Great...dial...no answer...repeat...no answer...give up. I then remember that I’ve got Pityu’s cell number...dial...picks up. He’s on his way...working. Now there is no one at the house...except the Puli...but I never thought that I couldn’t do it alone anyway. For those interested...A Puli is a dog bread...as in Hungarian Puli...You start with a large size cocker spaniel...and disguise it with about twenty dyed black string mops...and in such a way as to render it impossible to tell front from back...and there you have it! Matting the “hair” is optional...but does lend well to an authentic look. The car needs a bath real bad...so I’m off. Sometime later... I’m getting ready to take a bucket of hot water to wash with...when I hear someone at my door. Anci. She had been at the other house...but left in a flash...hence no answer. She was here to tell me that she had...for reasons unknown...gone to Cila’s place of work and learned that I was interested in getting the car out...past the Puli. Good thing I didn’t try it by myself. Anyway...she will return here about 1300hrs to assist. The car is now in fact washed...almost like new. Yeah right. Oh...There is the matter of the meaning...if any...to the word “Tuba”. I related above as to the fact that the Tuba...the musical instrument being invented in 1835...fact. Now I learn that in Medieval Latin...the word “tuba” meant...a horn. So while the instrument was invented as stated...the name that it got was not just pulled out of a hat. The plot thickens. The reason that Anci was at the other house was that she needed help with her car that had a dead accumulator...the battery by any other name...But that was resolved...don’t know how exactly...hence no need for her to come back at 1600hrs-ish for Pityu’s help...Which may have been why she went to see Cila at work...to pass the word. It’s a blistering 8.8°C outside. Sunny...with some clouds though. Later... Anci showed up and we did the deed with the Puli...as in she let it go out and called it back in when I was out. Did the store...and Jutka. From the look of it...it’s not the same hammer as in the photo and I will do some photogrametrics on it. I should have taken a photo while there but didn‘t. Heard it all again and then some. It’s really bizarre stuff. And hard to believe too. I need to look up kleptomania...and all its manifestations. I mean it’s chronic. I now wait for a call to bring the car around and into the compound. Still waiting...but are you ready for this...I ask? I decided to go back and look at the other photos taken on the day that with Jutka’s help...we started to put the shed together...the 26th. Blow me down...there were two other frames with the hammer in clear view! And better than the first one I found....taken on the 28th. The call...I’m gone... I’m back. Car is safe...The Puli was glad to see me...as in real glad...tried to hump my leg. Love at first leg. Have started to read into my pile of downloads. Which was what I was doing before it struck me to look at more photos...so it’s back to reading now. Oh...I guess I should identify the Puli by his name. I waited till now because I wanted a second opinion as to its spelling. I may have mentioned the name before as Jimmy...because that’s the way it sounds...and I’d asked Jutka...but thought I should go right to the source...Pityu and Cila. So...for what it’s worth...it’s...DZSIMI...simple...right? I think I’ll stick with Jimmy. Backing up a bit. I had called Jutka to tell her that I was coming. I get there and drive right into the space that Lajos had cleared the week before. I turn off the ignition...and proceed to exit the car. BANG. That was the sound of my head hitting the low branch...substantial I might add...of a cherry tree. Do the deed with Jutka...and make my way back to the car. As I start to ingress...Jutka calls out in warning...that I should watch my head...as in the low branch...substantial for sure...of the cherry tree. NOW...why didn’t she warn me when I talked to her about coming over? Now that I think of it...I’ll back in the next time...making for a faster getaway...anyway. Read some more now... STOOAC... Velence...December 5th , 2007. Late afternoon...the sun has set. Another colorful sunset. I shot Mars last night with the MTO 1000...And I’ve taken the C8 2000 outside to let cool down. I will shoot Mars again for sure and perhaps comet Holmes. It’s clear as I write but that could change. It’s been a rather nice day...no wind...sunny...but cool. I spent some time outside reading...with a glass of Tuba wine. Well actually it should be Fuller wine...but from the old Tuba wine cellar. Just back in...It’s 3.8°C...a bit chilly. Checked out Mars...It’s low in the eastern horizon. Tried to locate the comet...no luck. Much later...Did Mars...Cold as hell out there...Caught Cila on her way in...she’d stopped at Jutka’s...I had a feeling that she wanted to talk about something else...and lingered. It’s HOUSE time...STOOAC Velence...December 6th , 2007. Early...and cold. Signs of ice on the lake. I was not a happy camper with my astronomy efforts last night. The damn tripod was way too low for one thing...If I’d have extended it...it would not have fit through the double door. Two...it was bloody cold. I tried to do a polar alignment...a real fiasco it was...but half the time I was not sure that the drive was functioning properly. The comet was still visible to the naked eye...but it was not positioned well to try a photo with the telescope. And since the scope was not polar aligned...there was no use thinking about a piggy-back shot either. I have as yet not “developed” the shots of Mars. Velence...December 7th , 2007. 1140hrs. Partly sunny...though cold. Signs of ice on the lake...birds hanging out in a row. Reading is going well enough. It’s impossible to keep track of all the clans and tribes...they must have run into the thousands...when totaled...most with names that could easily be counted as another some time later...by someone else a few years later. And for sure...they were named differently by different observers from different lands. The other day I spotted a new bird. Last night another one...an owl. And just now another new one I think...though I only caught a glimpse. Some of the scaffolding has been removed from the “Boathouse” house...across the street. A few lines back I said that I thought that Cila wanted to talk about something else than what we ended up talking about. Well this may work out yet. If...Jutka blabbed that I had a photo showing exhibit “A”...namely the HAMMER...and I have no reason to think that she hadn’t...AND she...Cila...is thinking about telling Istvan...THEN...what? I would expect to see a difference in Istvan’s behavior toward me...in the short term...at least...as in perhaps avoiding me...or some such thing. The up side would be that I didn’t have to confront him...The down side may be that he will continue to “do his thing” in the future. This weekend will be the first test...since I don’t normally see him day to day. The forecast is for cloudy/rain...so it may not happen. Later in the day... Today was the second time that I’ve seen the Starling’s dance...or is it Starlings?...Both I think. It’s not as large as the ones in UK Land that I’d seen on TV...but interesting nonetheless. It’s cloudy again but there is color as the sun sets. It’s now drizzling! Velence...December 8th , 2007. A follow up on the “faked” moon landings. “Alright boys...put it right there...” Someone on the sideline asks...”What the hell is that?” Someone else answers...”Those are the wind machines.”...Proud of his astute observational skill. “Oh”...says the first...perplexed...scratching his head. You see there was the matter of the “waving flag”...that is claimed to be waving in the breeze! Proof that the video was shot in a “windy” environment...But as I hypothesized...the set would have been more than likely...an indoor set...hence the need for the wind machines... Now I guess that not everyone is aware of the fact that there is NO wind on the moon...no atmosphere you see...! But you would have to suspend all logic and believe that there was not one person that said...”Wait a minute...” Not one! And then at rehearsals...someone would have said...“hold it...that rock with the letter “C” is covered with “moon dust” and you can’t see the letter “C” anymore...Get someone to clean it off...we want that letter “C’ to show up clearly.” And look over there...all those smaller “fake” moon rocks have bee blown right off the set...Damn! Yesterday evening I get a call...Cila...asking me to move my car...so I hustle over...move said car. Out onto the street...Pityu’s car is driven out...I drive back in. Am asked inside...offered some wine...this years grapes...not yet clear...and deemed...so-so by Cila. Talk...same old issues...Anci reappears...she had been the one taking Pityu’s car...then a bit later Pityu arrives. Anci leaves. Get back here well after 2100. OH...The other night “I stepped outside to smoke myself...a “J”...without the “J”...when I see this bright bloody moving light...coming my way. Damn...It took me two seconds to realize what it was and veritably sprang...sprang...I say...into action! Inside...grab the 200 still mounted to the 300 2 8...slapped it onto the still tripod mounted MTO 1000...and drag it all outside. Look up to see the ISS is closer...but I should have just enough time to check the camera settings...etc. Turn on camera...DAMN...the flash card is still in the computer...inside. Spring inside...pull the card...dash out...insert card...look up...GADS! It’s disappeared! Should have known...had I been diligent about checking the tracking program...but I hadn’t. Today...step outside...DAMN...there it is again...AND in what would have a good orbit. I watch as it winks out at about 20° above the horizon. I had given up on today’s pass because it had been cloudy all day. Oh...I thought about leaping inside for the camera...But when I did in fact come in...the 200 was mounted to 300 2 8 again...the MTO 1000 on the tripod...win some....etc. AND then...The shuttle was supposed to go up the other day...and the ISS orbits visible here would have missed the two together...BUT they scrubbed the lift off...and it was on again for today. The longer it takes them...the better it is for me vis-a-vis orbit visibility...And now it’s gone into tomorrow...great. Oh...at Pityu’s house last night...Istvan seemed...normal....mmmm. Damn...I just found a website that had pulled one of my stories...and it’s made to appear as though I had come across it...(the site)...and posted to them the story...and signed my name to it...mmmmmm. Velence...December 9th , 2007. Morning... Well I did it again...but with more gusto...I tried to convince myself that I had invented a new and original...coffee flavor...to be specific...ORANGE. The last time I did it...I caught it...but not before some orange juice got into my mug...and I managed a partial recovery by adding the requisite milk...which is really a joke in as much as the “milk” is 1.5%...let’s call it what it is...white water...Which when I add it...I always tell myself that I’m using it not for taste but to cool it down...Anyway...that time a drank it. This time...was interesting. Backing up...earlier in the week I left a container of said milk...out for a day and thinking that it may have gone off...I put it in the frig door...segregating it...thinking that I’d only use it to “cool” my coffee...so far so good. In the door was a container of orange juice...100% the label says...also...right next to the milk. Now...I poured the coffee into my mug...sugar already there. Stir...and stir some more. Time for the milk...open frig door...reach in...extract container...pour a bit into mug...note color change...NONE...but convince myself that I hadn’t poured that much in. Retire to computer desk...having taken a sip along the way. Mmmmm...a different taste...and think that gads...the milk may have in fact gone off. OH...forgot a step...as in...putting the container of “milk” back into frig. Doing so...in my peripheral I caught a gimps of the label of the other container...mmmm I thought...that’s interesting...thinking that that container was the Orange juice...and further...that it had some of the same text as the “milk” that I had just put in there. Back it my desk...it’s slurp slurp...and slurp. Damn...that is some odd flavored coffee...as in I couldn’t taste the “coffee” at all...overridden by...what? More slurps. Finally...Enough of this...I went back to the kitchen...having figured out what had happened...The peripheral view...had it right...that was not an oddly labeled container of orange juice...it was MILK. Made a fresh cup...added the other containers contents. Much better. Yesterday I finally answered some of my backlogged emails...got one off the Bill too. I even got an answer back from one of then...asking how it came about that I lived in UK Land...and now HU...etc. About 27,000 words...81 pages so far. It’s overcast...more like fog and moderate temps. I wonder if there is a plan afoot...to “do” Jutka’s today. I’m usually the last to find out. Finished most of the reading...yesterday...as in caught up. Not sure what to search on at this stage. A lot of the material quote the same sources...so it becomes circular after awhile...though there has been some original stuff too. Debating sending that website an email...relating the fact that someone had ripped a story from mine. I never finished my cleanup of the area...though sorted a bit. If I got the car...I could take back a TV set...and what(?)...thinking...still thinking...there was something else...Oh...the fans could go too. And then I could look through my stuff...again. Think I’ll get dressed. It’s later... Well...nothing from the lads...nor Jutka for that matter. Means nothing though. Have yet to go online...I guess I should do that now... Done deal...downloaded a number of satellite images...which I shall later print. Later... Done deal...knocked out all my outstanding emails. Time for another cup of Joe...and hold the Orange this time! Now...in Magyar...a mushroom = gomba...a bomb=bomba...hence it follows that an A-bomb=...remember that you saw it here first...is a GOMBA BOMBA. The button (=GOMB) that you’d press to set off the GOMBA BOMBA is the GOMB...Hence the label beneath the GOMB...that sets off the GOMBA BOMBA would be...GOMBA BOMBA GOMB. I defy you to sat that quickly three times. I honestly don’t know how I come up with this stuff. No really...I don’t. Oh...I’ve also decided that the Dance of the Starlings is a form of fitness test. As are migrations. If you haven’t got it...you drop out of the gene pool. Quite clever really...though of course it’s all programmed stuff. The case of the Starlings is interesting...in that the logic goes like this. Ok fine...you hatched at the time when food was plentiful...and you’ve learned to fly...and in some kind of formation...but now it’s winter...and food is scarce...SO...we need to get rid of anyone that’s not going to make it through winter anyway...and we can’t afford to waste what little food there is available...only to have you die sometime soon...leaving less food for those that can make it. You would be an unnecessary burden on the rest of the flock. SO...let’s dance! Back and forth we go...all together now. Gads! Just scored 60(seconds)...12,093 points...Solitaire. That‘s ten better than my previous high score...I could feel it coming...no backups...the cards just came...one after the other...the faster they came...the faster I went. AND I didn’t even think to look at the timer. Ok...I did do a double take...when it was over. It will be somewhat of an anti-climax...to now score better that 70. And now that I’ve done 60...and know how it felt...I don’t think I will ever do better. The ISS is just over an hour out...and I’ve just been outside...it’s solid overcast...so I don’t want hear..."Oh...what’s that!" Are you with me on this? Gads! I just thought that I should get the camera and lens ready...you know...just in case...in the last minute...THERE it IS! Will do that now! Done deal...ISO 400...F/11...1/250 sec...tripod mounted...all set to go. Not a word from the crew. Oh...I did send an email to that website. I hadn’t known that the official language of Hungary...until 1800 something was...wait for it...Latin. Though it would have been most peoples second language...Magyar being their primary language. It’s coming up on 2000hrs. I’ve been reading/editing from page one down. Time to sign off...so...it’s STOOAC. Velence...December 10th , 2007. It’s foggy. Need to get going...do some grocery shopping...And as usual, I suspect that Jutka will call sometime today. Have not been online...so I don’t know whether the Shuttle launched or not. Later...have been online...and shopping. The Shuttle will not be launched this year! As in January at the earliest. Sensor problems...This is good because they now have more data points...Nail it and get on with it. The downside for me is that my ISS window will have closed by then. Weather wise...it’s drizzling. Temps ok. Got emails from Bill...and the web site guy. Bill is how a D-300 man! Sent three frames shot at ISO 1600...NOT too Shabby! The prediction for the 13th is sunny...so there may be a chance of seeing the meteor shower...actually it’s bits and pieces of an asteroid...as opposed to a comet. Much later... It has rained all day. Random thoughts: The very thought that Montgomery would say that Eisenhower did not understand a “plan”...I assume that it was one of Monty’s plans...from the guy that planned Operation Market Garden...is one hell of big joke. And having come out of the North African Campaign...against Rommel’s Africa Corps...with full access to the ULTRA decrypts...and using them...And waiting to amass a huge material advantage on top of that...against the...by then dwindling resources of Rommel...is stretching reality. And then we have Macarthur. Gads! Much later... It’s time for NCIC... Velence...December 11th , 2007. Was up early...coffee...computer on...the usual stuff. Some time later back in bed. A few hours later... I wake up from a nightmare. Interesting how most of my nightmares are about a loss...losing something. For awhile it was my car. Sometimes it was a car...but not one that I’d owned. Always the same plot. I go somewhere in the car...go on some kind of convoluted wild goose chase...and THEN...needing to go...for whatever reason back to my car...only to find it missing. AND then the real drama begins...of looking for it...and not being able to do so. I backtrack...I ask people...no luck. Sometimes...I ask and learn that it’s been moved...only to go there...and it’s not there either. The settings for these nightmares about the loss of the car are always interestingly unusual. This morning’s dream was a combination of a film that I watched on TV...of which I think I saw just the beginning...and then bits and pieces as I surfed the channels. It was those first scenes from which my dream started. The other part was the camera. This came from the fact that my friend Bill just go a new Nikon D300. So there I was with the camera gear...in one location...and then having to be in another location...with the gear. At one point I realize that I must have left my camera gear where I’d started...only to find it not there. This is the beginning of the nightmare portion of the dream. I am in turmoil...as I try to figure out where it was that “lost” it. And try as I would...it makes no sense. I go over each step...and I am convinced that I had left it somewhere. This of course makes me mad at myself for being so stupid as to leave it in the first place...and then to find that I can not remember where...much less find it. I think that...OH...and there is another aspect that I must add. I was at the far store yesterday...and I was in the process of checking out...and had indicated to the girl that I wanted the usual carton of smokes...knowing that she would have to leave the counter to do so...and at the same time I realized that I’d forgotten to get milk. Now...because of the temperatures...I have been taking a pair of gloves. When I go into the store I take them off and put them in the shopping cart. When I check out...I take the gloves and put them onto the countertop. Normally this is not a problem...I pack up what I’ve bought...and put on the gloves...out the door...etc. This time...there are the gloves...on the counter...and I need to go back for the milk...and I think for a second whether to take them with me...or leave them...thinking that if I leave them...they could easily be stolen. I leave them. As I get closer to counter on my way back...I again think that anyone could have taken it. There was no one about. The girl had gone for the carton of smokes...and I was off getting the milk. I am relieved that the gloves are where I had left them. It’s early afternoon...I guess I should get dressed...and then I'll finish the story. BIAF. Done deal. So...there I was...looking for my camera gear...and “knowing” full well that wherever I’d left it...it could have been stolen very easily...hence the futility of looking for it. As in...by the time I got to wherever it was...it would not be there. Circular reasoning...or if you will a veritable nightmare! Trapped...loss of control... This time I came to the realization...in the dream...that WAIT...I did in fact take it to the “other” location...and that it was in all probability where the camera gear was. It was at that time that I “switched off” the dream. Not bothering to actually go back to see for sure. Fully awake...I think...DAMN another “LOSS” dream. In one dream...I went back to what I believed to be my house...only to find that there had been a major addition...to the house...and...AND... there were people living there. The addition...was very poorly done...planks with gaps...sloping floors...all of it like a maze. Doors leading into MY space...the list went on. I was incredulous! It had been where I lived...but in some ways it was different. Intangible. And then at one point...I am again looking for something...This time it was a container...made of leather...circular...like a long hat box...brown in color. I seem to have found it...only to lose it again. The image of it comes and goes. I give up...and am back to pondering the addition...and the people living there...and they seem to think that THEY belong there...and that I’m the odd one. Now that I think about it...about the car dreams...It could be based on the fact that one day...I had parked my car on the street...in downtown Seattle...late in the day. I was going to our studio...(Saulius and I) and it was to be a semi quick in and out. Done deal...I go back to where I thought I had parked the car...and not finding it there...my first thought was...ok...then where did I park it?...think man...think! Well...it was exactly where I had parked it...but of course it had been towed away. Stupidity on my part...followed by the feeling of loss of control. As in the next hour or more would be spent locating my car...going there...having to pay to get it back...etc. Dare I say it...a nightmare. Then of course there were the “flying” dreams...In my case all I needed was an X-ray film...in it’s envelope...and I was flying...mostly trying to escape from a...wait for it...bear. And then there were the dreams about finding money...always in the form of coins...and in one dream...it was falling out of the sky...as rain...if you will. In an other one...I would find a stash...in water...as in a creek...not deep...but it did require a bit of digging...and the more I dug...the more I found. I was amazed. I would go back...in other dreams looking for the same place...sometimes with luck...same amazement. Then there were the airplanes in the sky...filled with thousands of silver airplanes. Then one would zoom down and crash in a tree...right next door. Damn! Just had a thought. I wonder about the last one. Could those dream have come from having seen...”thousands of silver aircraft”...as a child during the war? It would have been the right time...Germany was being bombed with...”thousand plane” raids. Mmmmm. And for that matter...some must have crashed too. Did I see that also? Later... It’s been another cloudy, rainy day. I’ve got an email in the breach to “A”. I need to think some more...don’t really know why. I need to answer one to Bill. And that web site. Oh...Finished “Catch 22” this morning. The ending was somewhat of an anticlimax...though I can’t say what I really expected. Caught Istvan on his way home...around 1500hrs. Said that Cila was on her way also. They were to go to the cemetery...Jutka’s (dead) son’s birthday...a few days back. Died in 1993 at 27. I think it was a car accident. The others would be there also I guess. I was not invited...which suits me just fine. I would like to skip any and all of the Christmas stuff too. I need my space and time. Caught “Troy” last night. It was interesting. Thought I saw Sean Bean in there too. My man Sharpe! He was in “Bravo Two Zero” also...no? What’s the deal with MacNab anyway? Tried to watch that Math Crime deal...but just can’t get into it. A few too many affectations for my taste. Like gee we’re smart types...look at us thinking. Throw in a few hand gestures...and...a blackboard...and there you have me. And though I enjoy NCIS very much...I’m surprised that Gibbs could get away with physical violence...smashing the back of heads as he does...and not get slapped with some sort of law suit. I mean what if...when his troops did good...he were to plant a friendly hand on their collective derriere‘s...and not leave out the girls...because they are after all...are part of the team...fair is fair...right. I guess I’ll go online...pardon my back... Sometime later... Done deal...Two emails sent...Bill’s and the one to “A”. Shit’s about to hit the fan...if my guess is right. “We shall see“...so goes the ancient Chinese proverb...when the candle was lit. STOOAC Velence...December 12th , 2007. It’s 1535hrs Local. I have just sent off an email to “A”...in response to hers...which was a response to mine. A real piece of work. Par. She's working under the influence as it were...and makes no sense...most of the time. And I’m just fool enough to try and make sense of it...by responding as though it made sense in the first place...which it does not. Trust me on this. I knew that she’d come back with “What rings?” As though we could possibly be talking about thousands of rings...right? The rest was incoherent drivel...But I responded as though it wasn’t. Yet another dull and dingy day. Any hope of clear skies tomorrow had better start showing me something...now. I went to the close store and they didn’t have the bacon that I wanted. Miffed...I am. OH...I just remembered that I bought two...yes...two potatoes...which I shall attempt to microwave...this being my first...as it were. I think I should go and try it now... Done deal...No Big Deal (NBD)...well...ok...the potatoes turned out ok...I think I could have used 5 minutes instead of the 7 minutes I hit it with. But it was the rest of it that was NBD. Live and learn...I guess. I had planned on picking up the area today...but then I read the email. It’s HOUSE night tonight. So it’s now on for tomorrow. I did a few more Google searches...but I am running out of things to focus on. I’m getting burned out on R1a1 stuff...mostly because there is no new stuff. Oh...Got a call from Jutka yesterday...telling me that a program was running on M1 TV...about wildlife photography...as in how to do it. Well...it was more about a young 23 year old Hungarian that was heavy into it. Canon gear from the look of it. He had gone so far as to have a blind in the reeds with all the comforts of home...food, heater, lights, bedding, tables that fold out, stove and all the rest. PLUS it’s hidden in such a way that if you don’t know that it’s there...you won’t find it. His work...is first rate...world class stuff. Taken a number of firsts in world competition. So it was not a tutorial...but an exposé of him and his work. Didn’t catch his name...and don’t say that he didn’t throw it...hahahaa. It goes to show that one really needs to get as close as possible to the action. From what I saw...it looked to be a 300 2 8...but I’m sure he has longer lens...wish I’d have seen it from the beginning. Check out his gear. I wonder if the powers that be would let me...or anyone setup a semi-permanent blind...somewhere in the reeds here on the lake? STOOAC Velence...December 13th , 2007. Up since 0600hrs. Or was it 0500hrs? Anyway...when I first stepped out I could just see Venus...but now I see that it’s cloudy though there are signs of light on the horizon. Today is asteroid shower night. Speaking of which...while it was HOUSE night...yesterday...it was not on. I can not figure out the TV schedules around here. Strange starting times. I thing they pack the commercials...up front...so some programs start at a quarter past...some later. And then there are still commercials in the middle of the program...that run long enough to bake a cake...to coin a phrase. Have not been online yet. Just back in from being out...the clouds are from north...NNE. There should be a bit sun today. The barometer is on the high side. Last night I did some work on some of my scanned negatives. I did Sidney’s head shot...I seem to have quite a few of her. I plan to print them someday. I should look at the shot of Toni also. It’s 1013hrs...Well that was an anticlimax. “A” inquires whether I’ve been drinking. That was it...just the one line with a couple of question marks thrown in. The answer is in fact no...But interestingly...I’m pretty sure that she has...and is. I guess she’s speechless...huh? Earlier I took out the 300 2 8 for a few shots given that this is the first day in a long time seeing the sun. Got one good shot from the look of it. The winds are out of the west...gusty...a few clouds. I’m getting hungry...what to eat...that is the question? I’d have bacon and eggs...but there is no bacon...try close store again? I guess I should change that to surface winds from the west...the higher altitude wind...clouds are from the north now. AND THEN...I was outside earlier and saw these two guys driving iron rods into the ground in a rough line...and then stringing some ribbon between them...in effect blocking access to...what amounts to the field that is between the main perimeter fence and the row of three houses that I’ve mentioned before. With me so far? I just came in...and noticed that there is another line of rods and ribbon at the other end of the field...blocking access from that end too. Now you ask...Steve...What is in the field that needs to be blocked? Well now...it is a rutted track...a random muddy path of sorts used by the residents of the three houses to get to their homes. Now...it was not long ago that said residents would enter the area from Kemping Street...hang a right...and after traversing the field...reach their house...simply park their car on the grass...(not on their property) and step up onto the concrete slab constituting their lot. Then...about a month ago...a fence was erected on said property line...right next to said concrete slab...it’s all one slab with three houses...preventing the occupants the convenience of a short walk from car to house. Still with me? So...Those three residents have up until now had to hang a right...cross the field on said rutted “road”...hang a left on what is part of the official road leading into the entire compound...which... Interrupted by the phone...same old rigmarole...want to speak with Istvan...no...yes...it’s his house...no...I live here... To continue...which is not used...because the gate leading out to Kemping Street is closed at all times...in effect forcing them to gain access through the only gate that is open...at all times. I should mention that at the same point that said road leads to the right...there is another...less used one too...which goes off at an angle...ultimately leading to a point that would/will some day be a continuation of the main slab of concrete...becoming the fourth house. BUT it’s being...or has been used by what I believe to be the milk/food delivery man. I effect a shortcut. Back to the point where the residents take a left...they must swing wide...so as to accomplish a hairpin turn (180°) and run the gauntlet of two brick pillars and then onto the slab. Parking their cars in the very small space between the houses is fun to watch. Now...given the above...the residents have to go straight through the main gate...continue past one house...a right...and go between that house and another...continue...past and between two other house...that are under construction...hang another right...continue...until they get to the pillars. Why don’t they just open the other bloody gate? Straight in! Time to bite the bullet...and fix some lunch...wish me luck. Some time later... Well...it never fails...clouds from the north...color in the sunset. Coffee or not coffee...that is the question. And of course there is the coldish wind. Nothing for it...see what happens. 1730hrs...the sky is clear at this time. Must wait for Mars to rise...because it’s in the constellation Gemini...and that is the radiant...for the shower. Will advise. Roger...Wilco...Over...Under... Who’s on first(?)...that’s right! 1815hrs...time for another recon mission. 1835hrs...Still clear. Temp is 1.6°C...and with the wind chill...it’s below freezing! Watched the sky...not one meteor. Cila and Istvan arrived while I was out there. 1909hrs...Same as above. Except that Cila and Istvan didn’t arrive because...they already arrived. Later... Debating taking the 200 with the 10-20 set at 10...and letting it run in sequence mode...say a shot every 45 seconds...with the shutter speed at 30 seconds. 2015hrs...The wind has abated...moderately. The temp is 0.9°C. The forecast is for snow. OH...I did see one...and it pointed right back to Mars. The problem now is one of sky view...which for me is tending toward the south...were I have a street lamp...and two trees. 2040hrs...Take back the moderating winds. None sighted...looking east. 2109...Command decision time. It’s too cold for man, beast and camera. The sky would have be falling for me to go out there now. Sad that while the sky is clear...other factors are overriding the assault of the summit. STOOAC Velence...December 14th 2007 Up since 0500hrs. I woke up a few times during the night thinking that I should at least take a look. I didn’t. At 0500hrs it was overcast. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the snow. Gads. 0704hrs...had coffee and breakfast...And now that it’s light...I see that we had in fact a dusting of snow. There is color in the east. The temp is 0.1°C. No wind to speak of. 1318hrs...Houston...we have bacon! Went to the far store earlier...got the usual stuff. Most signs of snow are gone as a result of the higher temps. Working on an email back to Bill. No email from “A”...following up her BS one about “was I drinking?”. Yeah right. Oh...back to the situation across the street. The fence running along Kemping has three gates...only one (the center) of which is always open since it services the entire compound, right and left. The houses on the left must have been built early on and are fully occupied except for one that’s still under construction. So since there are these occupied houses they can’t just lock it up. Then there is the fact that the gates are...at this time...manually operated...and not guarded...so they will have to remain open at all times. This raises the question of why isn’t at least the gate on the west end open now also. And...because it is locked the workmen on the sites have to walk to the center gate to get out for lunch etc. SO...one day I see these workmen walking...not to the center gate...but to the much closer west gate...which is locked...and passing through a gap in the fence that someone created by the expedience of cutting it. So any false thoughts about security are gone...and hence the gate should be left open...IMHO. As I read the myriad of documents that attempt to deal with the questions that all this “new” information that DNA analysis is creating I am struck by one thing that creates more problems than is solves. It is the vocabulary used in describing these various groups of people...as for example...”European(s)”. The context that is used is one of having to say that this group or that group were influenced...or even created by European(s)...or any other group for that matter. The problem is in making the mistake of overlaying present European(s) with what they were 500, 800, 1000 years ago. Even today Europe is subcategorize further as East European(s) and West European(s). There was no such distinction 500, 800, 1000 years ago. So a lot of what I read seems to be an attempt on the part of the writers to reconcile their lineage(s) using today’s European(s) and saying in effect that “they” owe nothing to it. Trying to separate themselves as far as possible. The peoples that migrated into what is NOW Europe knew nothing about “Europe”...it did not exist at that time...just plains, rivers, hills, mountains, valleys...no unnatural borders...none. The only border(s) was that which you could control...and if not...it became someone else’s...leaving them with the problem of trying to keep it...expand it...move it...etc. And historically...a generation or two later...it would surely change at least on a small scale. 1526hrs...It’s snowing...Cila got her wish. She added though...that it was not to last too long. 1550hrs...The dusting continues but without vigor. The other crazy thing is the whole idea that somehow “you” are related to a peoples long ago. Well...yes you are...but so is that guy across the street that you hate so much. Hell...you may be directly related to that person...just a few hundred years ago. While of course we are all related if you go back far enough. Then there is the matter of what it is exactly that you think came to you from your distant ancestors that make you think that you are in any way superior to those that don’t share your exact lineage. Think about it...if you could go back just one more generation...YOU could well be related...then what would you say? STOOAC Velence...December 15th 2007. 0423hrs...Up since 0400. The sky is clear. The temp is minus 2.8°C. What show there is fell yesterday. 1112hrs...The dusting has started. The temp is a minus 0.3°C. I’ve started to clear out as many images that I find...that I will most likely never use. I’m worried about maxing out the hard drive. 1507hrs...It’s above freezing. Still dusting. Just in...Saw a flight of geese in “V” formation. And I could hear them too. Too high for a good shot plus the lack of light. Was thinking about Shelly...as in Shelly H. I had heard the name very early on as a result of the notoriety she had per the fact that she was a teen model...while in high school...The same one I had attended...I remember thinking...ok fine...and I guess...NBD. Time passes...at least three years...could have been more. I had “found” Debbie...and was content. Then sometime after 1970 I started to shot the girls taking modeling classes at the various schools. Kathleen Peck...Patricia Stevens...and then Caroline Hansen. Caroline had been running The Patricia Stevens Modeling School...and at one point disappeared for a year or so...and upon her return...started a school under her own name...the time of this story. So it was that I got to know all the instructors...and they would bring their classes out to my studio...for a photo sessions. Sometime later Caroline asked me if I would be interested in teaching the photography portion of the classes. I said yes. It was after one of these classes...and they had all left that I found myself alone with Caroline and Shelly (now an instructor). They were already talking by the time I appeared...Caroline behind here desk and Shelly off to one side. I guess as a courtesy they brought me up to speed...The topic was Shelly’s experience in New York. I should mention that Caroline would time to time send girls back there for photography sessions...to get a feel for what it’s like. Shelly may have just come back from one...though I wouldn’t swear to it...anyway she was telling Caroline...that a girl going there should be prepared to pose topless. The implication was that she of course did...pose topless. I don’t know if I was supposed to say anything one way or the other...And I’m sure that my reputation proceeded me...so it was no mystery as to how I worked. Backing up a bit. The reason that Shelly came up in the first place was because her negatives were among the ones that I had earlier scanned and as I was cleaning out some images hers were there. Anyway...At that time...I had made a point of having a disjointed reputation. I was one thing to one group...and something else to another...and so forth. I had mentioned that to one ad agency that I worked for...I was “his Hippie photographer”...and when I went to see my other clients...I would dress entirely different. Not many knew that I was ex-Air Force. And so it was with the girls that came to me for photographs. I treated them differently than the girls I would find. I treated the Troupe girls differently from all the rest. I think I also mention that I had occasions to use one of the Troupe girls...Katy...for an upcoming shoot for the Bon Marche. The Bon was a pretty straight place...at the time...though they were making changes that would appeal to the younger crowds. So it was that Katy went there for a fitting...and at one point they ask her...in effect...about my “reputation”...as to how I was with the girls. Katy told them. This from Katy herself...”I said that he has never bothered me”...Which of course was true. Besides...Katy was not my type. She was into the Rock scene...the musicians...etc. Anyway...I remember talking with Caroline on a number of occasions...and asking me how I was holding up with “all these” girls? Back to Shelly...There we were talking...or more accurately...they were talking...about posing topless. I always wanted to ask Caroline how things were when she had been a model. She was a Breck Girl at one time...but never did...And now she didn’t say anything either way. This...thinking about it now...strikes me as strange. I mean was this something everyone knew about...?...I sure as hell didn’t...And I never heard of it being told to the modeling school classes. Could you imagine? Almost forgot this part...Then out of nowhere...Shelly moves over to me and puts an arm around my waist...I...out of force of habit...put my arm on her opposite shoulder...and there we stand like a couple of bumps on a log...facing Caroline...at her desk. Eventually we break...I mean this was no quickie...And I have no idea what brought it on. Was it Shelly showing me that she was friendly...was she trying to show off to Caroline? Given the fact that I hardly had a few words with her...except those about scheduling classes. No flirting...batting eyelashes...no winks...nothing. Of course I had no way of knowing what they might have been talking about prior to my arrival. I remember the rumors that went around soon after another class...when Divinity and I were spotted leaving together after having been seen talking to one another. Gads...you’d have thought that all hell had broken loose. Divinity was an exotic dancer...I believe...but don’t quote me on that. And yes we talked...and yes we did go down the long flight of stairs...and out the door...YES...and then she went one way and I the other. Interesting...it would be another year or so later that I would in fact do a session with her...she stripped! NO wait! Now I really can not remember which came first. I was involved with Michelle at the time...and she hooked up a session for me to shoot photos of Jade rings and dice...and what not...with a topless/nude model in the background. This was not my idea...but the client’s. Anyway...who shows up but Tonto (Ann G.) and Divinity W. as the models. Now...I’d known Tonto...for some time and had photographed her a number of times...but never topless nor nude. Gads! Double GADS! Back up some more. Sorry about this...but as I write...I think ahead...and who should pop up but...If you’ll allow...I’m getting ahead of the story. Michelle and I were history...and my current involvement was with Toni C. I don’t remember now if Michelle was there for the shoot or not. Anyway...Toni was there. Now...there we are...the client has pulled up a chair right next to my tripod...he doesn’t want to miss anything I guess...and since he’s paying...I shoot Tonto...and then Divinity. At one point there is some problem with panties...I kid you not...but after it’s all over...and Toni and I are alone...she says to me...why I did not ask her to be used for the shots. Well I was not asked to provide the models for one thing...and frankly...it never occurred to me. This was another example of not understanding the species. You’ll have to go back to see where we were...to continue... Having said that...I had a class at my Studio/House...and Priscilla (Perk) dealt with the money and anything else the girls needed as they changed clothes. I think it was after they all left that Perk says that one of the girl (Sidney) (they all would have heard) wanted to know if she would have to sleep with me to get a portfolio. Perk assured her that that would not be necessary. Perk was at the time my ol’ lady...and I’m pretty sure she would not have liked that. Sidney then came back for my normal package deal for more photos. Done deal. Time passes. Maybe three years or so. I get a phone call...It’s Sidney...wants me to photograph her...wait for it...nude! I think it was nothing more than reaching an age were it’s do it now...or never. She had a great face...She looked like Susan Hayward...with freckles. Done deal. Back to Shelly. It had never crossed my mind to ask Shelly to pose for me. That was another example of my disjointed methods. The other instructors called me...for photo sessions. SO...one day...the call comes...Shelly asking to shoot. Sure. I do my thing...get all the standard shots. Done deal. I then ask her to put on a man’s white shirt. I pose her in my wicker chair...and later by the window with just available light. I didn’t tell her what to do with the buttons of said shirt. Under any other circumstance I would have. Now you would have thought that she would have understood the type of shots we were trying to get...no? Soft...sexy...feminine...running around the house in a man’s shirt...it’s the morning after...whatever...right? Well I was not about to ask her to unbutton at least the top three buttons...which she should have done on her own anyway. I was not about to play the New York game...even though I think it was a setup. Then...around the same period...Caroline would bring a New York photographer to Seattle. I was asked to setup a shoot for him. I chose Jan...and the day came. Right out of the box...the guy wants her to pose topless. There was a double take...but Jan did it with a bit of persuasion...after all she had been posing nude for me for months...which is another story...take my word for it. So...there we have it...photos of a buttoned up Shelly. The funny thing is that the New York photographers do it as a show of power...it’s pathetic. I was not on a power trip. 1939hrs...It’s still dusting. The temp I close to zero C. Velence...December 16th 2007. 0728hrs...Up since 0700. Managed to make coffee without getting the Guacamole juice mixed up with the milk. It’s overcast...about zero...no wind...and white all over. Not a great amount of snow...just covering everything...about an inch...maybe two. No sign of the cats...of which there are more than a few. These cats are almost completely feral...though they get a handout now and then. They live by hunting mice. 1624hrs...The street is clear of show and ice. There are now signs of cats. It’s been above zero most of the day...and overcast. No emails. No interruptions. Downloaded a few sat images...of the (Carpathian) Basin. 1855hrs...Just in. Saw the white dog again. Right down the middle of the street...heading west. It’s unusual for a dog to be on the loose. Most dogs are behind the property fence...guarding. They’re not allowed in the house. I described the dog as white...but now compared to the snow...well...it’s not that white. I will need to go to the store tomorrow. 1920hrs...Cila called...coming over to tomorrow...to talk...money and I think she’ll bring the latest FamTree data. STOOAC Velence...December 17th 2007. 0707hrs...Up since 0600. Clear and below freezing. Done coffee. I had been up around 0200...had a smoke. Back to bed. Shower first...or when I get back from the far store? 0715...Just in...it’s a minus 2.8°C...and I saw the Dance of the Starlings...as they formed up...and then some of them...flew right overhead. I waited for the sound of their wings in the quiet of the morning. It was good. I also came up with a scenario for the photo paper which is in UK Land. Ivan manages to bring it to Budapest. Gets it to Eva’s. Then my neighbor and relative...to the west......wait for it...Agnes (maiden name)Tuba picks it up there...since she lives there at this time of year...and she could bring it to me when she comes back to Velence. This would save me having to deal with Eva and the rest. All I need to do is set it up. Addresses, phone numbers etc. 0739hrs...There is one thing to consider...as I wait for the sun to rise...the condition of the street...it is clear of snow...but could I be looking at black ice? 0751hrs...Command decision time...It’s a go. Have to get some more cash too...to cover Cila later today. I’m off. 0827hrs...Done deal. Still a minus 2.4°C. The sun is up...Bloody crispy out there let me tell you...This reminds me of Cut Bank...Under dressed. No hat. Gloves are good. I want someone to explain to me...how it’s possible to have a day where most games of Solitaire are not winnable...one right after the other...not winnable...with most of those not even close. [They are all winnable but one. I mean to say that they are not winable easily.] Ok...fine...I won one...but the next...had all the aces...And it’s not like I don’t know how to play the game! Again...three games in a row...not a chance. Three out of the last four...no go. Is this a case of a “Run of bad Luck?” 1351hrs...The anomaly continues. I reloaded the game...and though better...I feel that it’s still there. I’m policing the area. Have a coffee going. The sun is out. Curtains open. Earlier...caught Istvan coming from somewhere...talked. Later...called Jutka to say that I would not need to go shopping...since I had already done so. I called because Istvan mentioned that he’d been there...and she had said that she might call. “Might” is not close enough for this guy...because I was going to hit the shower...which is as I write...a done deal. Now if I could just remember whether it was after 1600hrs that Cila had said...though adding before 1900hrs...sounds about right...but that’s one hell of a window. 1711hrs...Pretty well done policing up. Cila has yet to show. Found a few interesting things...tossed some stuff. Sky is clear...a half moon. Cold... Need to think about fixing some grub. I bought eggs today...so I’m thinking the old standby...Bacon and eggs. I have bread. Not much more a guy can ask for huh? BUT...I’ll now have to wait out Cila. And...it’s NCIS tonight. Talked to Istvan about the photo paper problem...and he mentioned a few possibilities. Counted out the cash in my wallet...over (ft)141,000. Hope it’s enough. Oh...thoughts on the diverted traffic across the street. It may just be to prevent car from getting stuck in the mud. There was an incident a few weeks back...at night...where a truck got stuck...and at the time it was not snowing...just wet. Took another vehicle to get it free. Fun to watch...but no fun at all if it’s you that’s stuck. Stepped out at 1727hrs for a proverbial...and heard Istvan heading out to intercept Cila. I guess I should tell the story of "The man...who’s second language was French." The place...San Diego, California. The date...late 1982...early 1983. What were you doing in San Diego...I hear you ask? Bill Lange and I flew down to San Diego on 4 Jan 1982 to Adjust some of the...then new...Otis Elevonic elevators. These were the very latest...solid state controllers. We had some coming online in Seattle...but it would be a month or two out...So to get some experience...it was off to San Diego. It was supposed to be for a specific duration...but as thing worked out...I stayed behind to do one more while Bill will return to Seattle having done one. So there we are...with a rental car...staying at a Travel Lodge...room 27. Right across the street is a Denney’s. We would hit the place for breakfast...and sometimes dinner on work days. On other days...Bill and I would go out to other places...but it was no big deal for me. Now...it makes sense that after awhile you got to know the staff. I was a big tipper...don’t ask my why...it just felt right...and so I would...for breakfast always go to the same table...and hence get served by the same waitress. My waitress would have my order at my table...before I sat down. Interestingly...when I let it be known that I was leaving...last day...She...the waitress served me my usual...and she paid for it...on the house as it were. 1810hrs. Cila, Istvan and Pityu had arrived. It turns out that it was nothing more than an invitation...Pityu’s house...the 25th . Did a show and tell of my latest prints...Comet Holmes...etc. Then Istvan mentions that there was something in the news about new theories about the workings of the universe...etc. I will look into it. Pityu was off on a tangent about how comets and rockets work...sadly he was wrong...and ...I need to eat something...NOW. More later. Okkkkk! Where were we? Now one day there is a new face...a new waitress. Tall...good looking...nice legs...hell...nice everything. BUT...and there is all ways a BUT...She was really, really new to witnessing. And for awhile you just excepted it. Most times we (I) would not be sitting at one of her tables...but we could hear her saying to every customer that..."I’m new at this”...etc. Over and over...all the time. As time passed...she continued to say that she was new at this. I was there for 10 weeks...and as time passed...word rippled down that she had come from Las Vegas...perhaps a dealer at one of the tables. So there we were one evening for dinner...and as luck would have it...we was at one of her tables. So far so good. She comes over and takes our order...and states that she is new at this...before she could leave...I add that...seeing that the table had not been set...completely...I asked that she get us the rest of the...wait for it...“accoutrements”...(not the English pronunciation) in my best French...this word being only one of perhaps two words that I could pronounce well enough to convince any American. Ok fine...she turns...heads over to where she would pass along the orders...AND...and there is always and AND. She asks the cook on the other side of the serving counter...what did the word she thought she heard mean...because I had wanted what ever it was. This last part I piece together because I didn’t actually hear it...But...you know the drill by now...But...someone else did. In fact two people heard it for sure. An elderly couple they were. And it seems they heard the entire exchange. Looking back I can not be sure where they were in the scheme of things...because of what then happened. They...the elderly couple had heard enough...and decided to leave. In a huff...as it were. The old gentleman could not contain himself without...it appears...convincing himself...of what had taken place...and if it turns out that it was as he and the Mrs. had heard...he was prepared to give me a thorough going over. To wit...he approaches our table...and cuts right to the chase. Now...he proceeds to tell me what it was they heard...and it was not pretty. They were shocked that someone...such as myself could be so uncouth...as to suggest that the food...and it gets a bit fuzzy here...either tasted like...or looked like...wait for it...feces. WELL...now I was shocked. The punch line: Once I regained my composure...I proceeded to inform the old gentleman and the Mrs...priming myself for what would turn out to be my command performance as a linguistic virtuoso in French...that all I asked for was the rest of the...“accoutrements”... Gasp...shock...”see I told you...” him to the Mrs. Then...with a great sigh of relief and a big smile...he says to me... “Oh...French was my second language.” And all was forgiven. Normally this would be the end of the story...but...and there is always a but... So there I am now alone...Bill is back in Seattle. I now take my dinner there at Denney’s exclusively. Normally I would not look twice at the other patrons...but after awhile you get to know the regulars. There was a couple of old gals...perhaps sisters...perhaps not...it’s not really germane to my story one way or the other...truly. They had seen me there...and word had filter down about us...the elevator guys...as it were...and where we were staying etc. It must have been a weekend...it was late...and for some reason I went across the street for god knows what...I really don’t remember...could have been just company. A day or two before there had been an incident just a door or two down from mine at the Travel Lodge...police were later involved...and as I now think about it...I looked into that room as I passed it and saw a young good looking girl...very upset...and being consoled by I presume her friends. Back to Denney’s the two regulars were sitting at the counter...talking. I took a table...and since there were very few customers...I was soon the target for there conversation...knowing that I was staying at the Travel Lodge...and they informed me that though it was being denied...the girl had been the victim of rape. The perp had managed to clime up the outside of the building. The story went on for some time. The next night I do Denney’s again. As I go through the doors...I spot the pair...and guess who else is chatting away with them? It’s our non French speaking, card dealing, “I’m new at this“...waitress...without her wig...which I noticed with my beady French looking eyes...it’s her night off. But I digress...I just manage to get through the doors...when...making for me like a bee to honey...is our you know what...arms out. I know I didn’t...but it would have a great move to have done the old...”look behind myself to see who it is she’s about to embrace.” In my line of work...Tuba...Steve Tuba...Elevator Man...at the time...you get a sixth sense about your surrounding...and I knew that there was no one behind me...so I stretched out my arms...with the full expectation that the two bodies in question would successfully meet somewhere in the middle. The two busybodies just gaped...enjoying the free show. They did...no doubt about it. I didn’t really know what to make of it. I had not had ten words with her except to place an order. None. So now to find myself in the embrace of...I must admit here and now...that I had had impure thoughts...about her...more that once. OK fine...every time I saw her...so what(?)...the hot waitress. It was as though we had been friends for months. “Yeah...just blew into town...and thought I’d look you up...oh yeah...at Denney’s...that’s right. How are ya’ babe? Yeah...it’s mister big spender...that’s me alright.” There was no bones about it...she had the...“accoutrements”...Everything in the right place...and not too small nor too large...just right. As it was...I had a room to myself. The gears turning. Well it was a bit too pat for me. It could have been interesting...BUT and there is always a BUT... STOOAC Velence...December 18th 2007. 0705hrs...It’s a minus 0.5°C. Yeah...it was just an invitation. I thought it was to be about monies. Then of course I did think it strange that Istvan had come too...and a minute later there was Pityu...he had stopped to take off his shoes in the hall...the three of them. At one point I showed the photo of the Basin that I’d downloaded from the web...which Cila recognized right off...and asked how I’d gotten it...but before I could answer...Istvan jumped in with something...followed by something else...and then I showed my photo of Comet Holmes. I explained that the comet had gotten dimmer but was for the same reason larger. And that led into the question of what was a comet...which led to the question of the tail...and then there were off and running with what makes them move in the first place. It went down hill from there. Did it really matter that they had a misconception of the laws of motion? Had they grasped Newton’s third law? This all points to knowing something...and Knowing...something. I kept say that “that” was not how it worked...to no avail. Having said that...the setting was not the time nor place for a serious discussion...of anything. At the end Istvan threw in something that he’d read...about a/the “21st Century’s Einstein” and the totally new concepts presented. At one point I asked when it was that he’d heard/read about this...He said in the last week or so. Gads! Gads because I read all the latest science related stories online...and I had not seen anything even remotely dealing with the subject...as related by Istvan. While he was talking...I was obviously thinking that it would easy to find the subject online...after they’d all left...but that was while it sounded as though he had heard the news in the last half hour...explaining why I’d not heard of it. I did in fact do a GS...and came up with nothing that was remotely close to what I thought Istvan had said. To paraphrase...with more than a little laxity...it was TOE...all rapped up...answered...everything...done deal. Not so fast! I had swept the snow off the stairs...and swept the balcony too. Sometime later I hear the sound of sweeping on the porch...and guessed that it’s Istvan...since Cila had made a point of it...as in it needs to be done. I stepped outside...and eventually engaged Istvan in conversation...and remembered that I wanted to ask him about the “Einstein” thing in more detail...so that I could do a proper search. Well...he volunteered to go and get the paper. He did. And I plugged in the name Garret Lisi...and printed out the first hit...Wikipedia’s! Read it...went back...and found another hit which I read into. It’s now 1215hrs. I’ve been reading about “our Einstein” friend. Gads! Well it goes to show....and it’s very sad if you ask me. The guy has no real credibility...and some go so far as to call his supposed theory a hoax. The part about being the “21st centuries Einstein“...was from goofball writer...the list went...noting the lack of basic knowledge about the subject etc. Done deal...as far as I’m concerned. Now the analysis... for what it’s worth. Here we are in small town (village) HU Land...and in what had started out as nothing more than an opportunity to deliver...personally...an invitation...and having it turn into an impromptu meeting of the Velence chapter of the LRWWRITP&TGR&TTOEDG. (Let’s Relate What We’ve Read In The Papers & The General Relativity Theory & The Theory Of Everything Discussion Group)...I kid you not. Think about it! There is a great difference between knowing something...and simply having read it in the papers. So when they quote the paper as it were...they seem to want to imply that they have an understanding of that subject...and its implication. NOT! I found myself saying more that once that “that’s not how it works”...but I was ignored. THINK ABOUT...Ignored! It should have been just the opposite...no? “GADS! Where have I gone wrong with my thinking...so as to be wrong”...”I thought I knew that”...etc. But no...It went from comets tails to Relativity...in two minutes. Amazing. It’s no wonder that the world has turned into such a screwy place. Nobody knows what the hell they’re talking about...but that doesn’t seem to stop them...not in the least. So I end up hearing every screwy theory...from telepathy...UFOs...and even the one that I heard first over 40 years ago...the gee...we could be existing in the knee of a giant being...as in the perception that our solar system “looks” like the particle of an atom...hence we are just really tiny. Yeah right! On telepathy...it’s never explained how the “signal” is actually propagated...much less where the “transmitter” is in the human body. It’s brushed aside...with an “oh...there are a lot of things that we don’t know...nor understand.” Well what about the thing that we DO know and understand? Like how much power does it take to transmit this single...that can reach across a continent. And then picked it up at the other end. As in...how come we are not flooded with all these signals flying all over the place...all the time? How do we separate out the one signal of interest? Now I’m not saying that one may have a premonition...but that’s NOT a received “signal”...it’s just a feeling. Ah...I hear you say...just a feeling...well that’s what we mean. No it’s not! It’s the dumbing down of people. Don’t know how things work...no problem...believe what you want. It’s as I said to the group one day this summer out on the balcony...Cila, Istvan and Pityu...that you can believe whatever you want...But I would not hire you as navigator of my ship...if you let it out that you believe that the world is flat. They laughed...as in they got it...but. OH...just remembered something else that Istvan had said yesterday...That from his reading about the “Einstein” guy...that everything we thought we knew about electronics...electricity...were overturned! Well that really would be something I would be very interested in...to say the least. Last night’s episode of NCIS was one that I’d not seen before...this could be a good sign. As in from here on...they could all be new ones. Anyway...the whole thing was a waste re “Einstein boy.” I’m not sure that Istvan will ask me what I came up with...nor what I will say. I was asked to make available the photos I’ve taken this year of all the “events.” To do that I will need to sort through hundreds of images...and put then into one folder...and display them continuously...so that anyone can take a look at their leisure. Of course they will have to be on the external drive. 1535hrs...Just off the phone with Jutka...she’d called earlier...wanting $100. Xmas presents for the family. I plan to double that. 1300hrs tomorrow...she’ll drive by...and grab the cash...on her way to Fehervar...for an appointment with the eye doctor. She’ll buy the stuff while in town. Done deal. So where were we...Oh yeah... She wrapped her arms around me...and I must have done the same. The two gals beaming. From that point on I have not a clue as to what happened. No we didn’t go back to my pad across the street. I was not looking seriously for an affair...and logic got in the way. As I said it was a bit too pat. Was this a Las Vegas hustle? I didn’t want any complications. Anyway...I guess it was just another fork in the road. [She couldn't have been making that much money. So I would have been just a target of opportunity. And I had only had about ten days to go before I would be leaving anyway.] Oh...I was outside at 1630hrs and there was Cila on her bike. She got home early today...a good thing. 1754hrs...It’s clear...it’s cold...and the moon is up. 1951hrs...It’s minus 2.6°C. Clear. Just off the web. No emails...good I guess. Still think the shit's going to hit the proverbial fan. STOOAC Velence...December 19th 2007. 0710hrs...minus 7.0°C. Jutka will be coming by today. I’m sorting through all the photos for show and tell at Cila’s on the 25th. It’s a bitch. 1345hrs...Jutka has been here and gone. Done lunch. The year was...Let me tell the story first... I was fingered as the ring leader of the infamous RB Gang (RBG). And one day I was sent to see the warden...to whom I confessed as to where I’d gotten my weapon and ammunition. Sometime later I would be ask to provide a service which brought me in contact with the warden yet again. The subject of my involvement with the RBG was never brought up. The mission was simple enough...take the nondescript briefcase full of money...and deliver it to given location...and return with the empty briefcase. It was to be a regularly scheduled mission...once a week...for the duration. I was of necessity relieved of normal duties on those days for the time of the missions. I would travel in plane clothes...and the briefcase was not secured to my wrist so as not to attract unnecessary attention...since it would in public and in broad daylight! I was given travel expenses. I was given identification papers...for each mission only...to be use in case the local constabulary stopped me. I never knew how much money I was carrying. I didn’t really care. That was it...take the money...go to HQ...open the briefcase and toss the money into the night drop bin. I was to go straight there and straight back...no drama. For my cooperation...I was to get a sum of money in the form chits. I assumed that I was chosen for these missions because I was physically large...and Stickles must have had something to say. And I guess they thought I could handle myself if push came to shove...though I was not allowed to carry any weapons. They were the only ones that I knew...that knew about my missions. They are both dead now....the warden Peterson just by running the numbers...old then. The other one was of course Stickles...also known as “Bandsaw”. Rick “Ricky” Chinn...(though no one called him "Ricky" to his face...except his friends...the rest called him "db"...but never new what it meant)...who had served time there too...told me one day...after we'd both gotten out...that he was dead...I believed him. There may have been others...but they don’t matter anymore. I had been on a few missions by then without a hitch. Then it happened. I was on a public street were I was approached by a total stranger. Short stocky guy...maybe 35...and seemed hyper...he looked beat up...but that might have been just my opinion. He wants me to go with him...to a place a short distance away. Bells start to go off in my head as he continues to talk. I don’t listen...but I looked around to see if he had any help in the area that I would have to contend with...should push come to shove...and me unarmed. I think about the briefcase full of money. Why me...I thought? My mission profile was...there and back...no detours...not contacts...I reminded myself. And then...it could have been a test...to see what I would do in this situation. Either way...I played it by the book. The guy finally gave up and left. No one said anything to me about it...after I returned...and I didn’t either! To this day I don’t know for sure what the deal was. Well...that’s the story...Oh...just a few details. I was 15 at the time...the year was 1959. Everything I’ve written was true...Even the names are of the real people involved. Peterson...was of course Mrs. Peterson...or was it “Miss”(?) the school principle...Stickles was in fact Mr. Stickles the woodshop teacher. It was from his class that I was excused...and I logically assume that he had put my name forward for consideration. As for the RBG, the infamous Rubber Band Gang...well...I was fingered by some of the girls on the bus that took us to and from school. I had gotten my ammo from the rubber bands that I used on my paper route. The rest is as it happened. I was paid with a chit that got me into the noon movie for free. I was given travel expenses which amounted to bus fare there and back. I remember one other thing...It was on the second leg of my outbound trip...that I ended up talking to this guy...on the bus. He might have been a school currier also...and the subject was this really nice looking young woman that had gotten on the bus. His comment was...something to the effect that she was perfect...perfect in her appearance...every single strand of hair was in place...perfectly. I’m sure I agreed...I had made the same observation. She eventually got off...and we continued on to HQ. Oh...HQ...as in the Seattle School District’s administration building. Each school would gather a week’s worth of monies...and arrange for it to be delivered there. The guy that had approached me on the street...at a bus stop...was trying to talking me into joining a gym...as in boxing...which just happened to be right there a few doors away. Well...there we have it...Just another day in the life of........... Notes: I don’t remember specifically being told not to talk about my “missions”...But having said that...I don’t remember telling anyone either. I would catch a bus...that took me into downtown Seattle...at which point I would transfer to another bus...for the second leg of the journey. I remember that the briefcase was light brown/orange in color. The money was in a bag...which was in the briefcase. It also contained coins naturally...and hence on the heavy side. Except for that one incident...the rest were routine. 1517hrs...minus 1.7°C. Overcast. Foggy. 1603hrs...And the sun has already set...but no way to tell because of the cloud cover. A few more days and the days get longer again. Thinking...what to write about next...that is the question? 1717hrs...Just in...saw the owl again...silent wings...and that will teach me not to go out in freezing temps...without a camera...huh? Got it...my next true to life adventure. Let’s see now...it would have been 19 hundred and 60. I woke up to voices...or had not fallen asleep...either way I guess I sort of snapped. Without any plan whatsoever...I decided to run away from home. I didn’t like what I was hearing from the voices in the kitchen which was below my room...and in some way thought that it would be best for everyone...especially for my brother...if I were not around any longer. So it was...that I got dressed and with about 75 cents in my pocket...climbed out my bedroom window...out onto the roof of the back porch...and from there I jumped over onto the neighbors walk some feet below. I had done this before just for fun...so the fact that it was dark didn’t slow me down at all. Transportation. My brothers bicycle was on the front porch...and it was simple to climb the few steps up...and with the bike back down without making any noise. Done deal. Destination...Mmmmm...California...that’s where I would go. It seemed a good choice because it was late fall...and not too warm in Seattle. A warm place...to go. So I headed south. I don’t remember what road I took...but it must have been in the back of my head that I would first go to Lake Tapps...where we had some property. It was 60 miles away...and I think I got there in one go...arriving sometime in the next days morning. It had crossed my mind that I should leave the bike there...and that it would be found the next time they went out to the lake. The plan now was to hitchhike the rest of the way. I rested for an hour or so...and then started walking back over the same road I had come on earlier. This time it would be mostly down hill...for which I was grateful...even though the bike had not been much use...climbing the hill when I came. As luck would have it just as hit the main road heading down the hill...a car stopped and picked my up. It was a young couple. Teenagers. Oh...I forgot to mention...that I taken with me my bow...quiver...and a few arrows. More on that later. Anyway...the couple took me as far as the bottom of the hill. I was now on the old east valley highway...heading south...in the Sumner area. OH! Reminder...the story about the day at Lake Tapps! That one is even better than the one I’m telling now. Anyway...I would walk some...and get some rides. I remember being picked up by a Marine...in uniform. Then a number of faceless people. Thanks. One guy bought me breakfast or was it lunch? I wasn’t exactly taking notes...now was I? Hence I can’t even give a good timeline. I crossed the border into Oregon...but don’t know whether it was night or day. I do remember being tired and needing to sleep...so I laid down in a ditch by the side of a road. I remember hearing all the cars driving past. I don’t remember actually sleeping...but it was possible...and waited for daybreak. The next morning I found a vending machine...and spent some of my change on a candy bar. So much for breakfast. I didn’t have a map...But I knew that as long as I headed south I was going in the right direction. I never stopped long enough to take in the sights...it was cold...and I had to just keep going. One town after another...a village and then another town. They all looked the same to me. Then! I was getting near to the Oregon/California border. It must have been the signs. And again I was lucky getting a ride...or so I thought. The next car that stopped for me had one of those red lights that could be put onto the car’s roof...sitting there on the dashboard. Gads! The man asked me where I was headed...I told him. He went on to ask more question...most that I didn’t want to answer. XXX 2045hrs...time to pull the plug. STOOAC Velence...December 20th 2007. 0712hrs...It’s a minus 1.4°C. Overcast. Doing coffee and a bit of Solitaire. Reminder for more stories. The defining moments...turning points. The Wang. Sat tracks. 0910hrs...just back from the far store. Bought mass quantities of poppy seed pastries...and am consuming same with great vigor...as I write. 1254hrs...minus 0.2°C. Have been online...no emails. Looked at a site re polar alignment...printed it...and of course it doesn’t explain my problem. I think the scope is too far out of balance...putting an undo force on the motor...hence running slow. 1326hrs...I don’t feel like writing. 1429hrs...Caught Istvan while outside...chatted a bit...not much to say. Offered me some apples...I declined...thank you very much. I think the lake is covered with ice...unlike before when it was patches. I don’t see any birds hanging out on the ice either. Random thoughts: I’m getting to feel that I’m in an old Star Trek episode and have landed on a planet where the population doesn’t pursue the truth...instead just repeats the same old stuff such that they now believe that that is the truth. AND they don’t want to hear...the real truth. It’s not like...”Gee Mr. Wizard...so that’s how that works.”...”Yes Jimmy...that’s the way it really works.” I hear that when the moon is full...it means that it will be cold. Why not...when you see a full moon...you are more than likely to 1) notice it...AND...2) the reason that you notice...is because it’s clear...as in no clouds...hence colder temperatures? The cause and effect have been reversed. The phase of the moon has no bearing on the local temperature. The same with the violent crimes at the time of a full moon. Same nonsense. If you try to set them straight...they look a you as if you’re the one that’s not getting it right. It’s a huge problem to get people to change their long held...incorrect...beliefs. I may have touched on the misconception when it comes to physics. Once it’s in their heads...that’s it...done deal...on to the next one. Oh...Istvan did not ask what I found regarding the Einstein boy. Though I did say something...not related...that could have triggered a question...but no. I begin to see now simple life is here in the village. Everyone reconnects as often as needed...and it’s mostly just gossip. Throw in some whining...and there you have it. Nothing very...dare I say it...deep. The last time I talked to Jutka...asking for $100...she admonished me for not coming round. Gads. I gave the freezing temps as an excuse...but the reality was and is...that sitting there and having to chitchat is not my idea of a good time. I do go there when invited for lunch...and I do make the best of it. When everyone was helping with unloading my stuff...they saw most my toys...But no one has asked...(and let me say that I’m not looking for attention)...“Gee Mr. Wizard...what does all this stuff do?” At least when Dan Huckins came to my house for the first time...he extended the courtesy by asking...”What the hell is all this shit...Tuba?” Now there was a statement of appreciation if I ever heard one. I do miss my toys...all set up. There is so much that I could doing...interest stuff I might add. I’m ruthlessly attacking my photos...tossing then...as I see them. Fortified with some vintage wine from the Tuba Vineyards...I continue...to cut and slash my way through thousands of frames. 1930hrs...Started a second glass of wine. I feel a bit odd today. It’s been with me since morning. Don’t know what...but it’s there. If there is such a thing as destiny...I do not have one. I never felt that I had...and I do not now...as I look back over all the years of my life. My life has been...a series of events that are not connected. I never thought about until recently. At any given time...I am just there. This is not the multiple sourced quote of “Every where you go...there you are.” This is something different. Unlike T.E. Lawrence who was a bastard...I was only close. Missed it by two weeks. I was though...technically the son of a bastard. So perhaps I can not write my own...destiny. Does...destiny have a time limit...a date best used by...before it “goes off?” I think that I am back to forks in the road. Left...right...or non of the above. As I look at the photos I have taken over the last seven years...I see images of things that I did and saw...records, for lack of a better term. As I write...I realize that what I am doing...I would have liked to have had my ancestors do...too. Of all of us here in Velence now...I know that I am the only one with any kind of written record. It started with “STLore”...which I think is a 1MB document. I shall try to find it on a hard drive somewhere...and there is a paper copy in my filing cabinet. It starts from the time I returned from Okinawa...up to about 1996...subject to actual data. Logging off... Velence...December 21st 2007. 0858hrs...up at 0500....back to bed at 0600...up at 0800hrs. The Hungarian/Austrian border is now open...as part of the EU BS. The Austrians are having kittens...I kid you not. What...they didn’t know that the day would come? IMHO...they are a sniveling lot. No word from Jutka. Thinking about it...she may well ask me to come over today...no reason behind it...just. I should hit the shower. 0941hrs...it’s a minus 1.0°C. The barometer has been stuck on high for the last week...or so. 1225hrs...I think that the lake is frozen over. Can’t be all that thick...but...enough. Last night at 2100hrs...I stepped out...and there was that nonwhite white dog again...heading west. “How do it know?” sic...Take a warm liquid and put in a thermos...and guess what...it stays warm. Now take that same thermos...and I am not talking about another thermos...that looks the same...but that very exact thermos...and put a cold liquid in...and it stays cold. Hence the question...”How do it know?” sic... Jutka has not called...which is ok by me. It’s too bloody cold for my liking. Back to tossing frames. Just came to me...I should include Jutka’s shed shots with the other show and tell stuff. 1805hrs...just in...and I first saw a cat...heading west...hugging the right side of the asphalt street...NBD...right(?)...when I spot that nonwhite white dog again(!)...trucking down the middle of the street. That dog gets around...ignored the cat. 1837hrs...just in...see cat heading east. Look for nonwhite white dog...not sighted...but did hear a dog bark in the distance. The slaughter continues re frames. Just got to the days that I spent at my friend Bill’s...about this time of year...one year ago...hard to believe...I know. 1910hrs...just in...saw nothing. No...I don’t mean I saw nothing...as in my eyes were closed...I mean nothing unusual...though I heard a dog barking to the west...the other one was to the east. Can’t believe I had so many days of "dirty sensor". Now I do remember trying to get some kind of cleaner. Oh...I managed to find a number of usable frames. I may even print some...if I ever get the paper that’s sitting in UL Land! Velence...December 22nd 2007. 0830hrs. Minus 3.7°C....0849hrs...it’s now minus 3.8°C! And there is a wind from the west. In my bathrobe...it’s a bit nippy out there! 0953hrs...did breakfast...interrupted by the phone...looking for Cila. The clouds seem higher...hence it’s colder. Hate it. This is too much like Cut Bank, Montana! Later... I should get dressed...and I need to talk to Istvan...and get the heat turned up a notch. I’ve plugged in the space heater...it’s 17°C...in the room! Time to go online. Today will be the longest night shortest day...day. Over the hump...as it were. Later...time to hit the frames again. I have completed the copying of frames onto my USB Flash Memory...It has only some 95MB of space left. That’s almost 2GB total...I should figure out how long it will take to go through the lot at say 3 seconds of view time. Well it works out to 161 minutes. The big deal with the lake freezing over is that if it’s strong enough...to hold the men and equipment...they will harvest the reeds. Not sure where on the lake they plan to do it...as in all of it or just selected areas. With the current temp at a minus 3.4°C...this has been the coldest daytime temp that I’ve seen. The barometer is off its high...somewhat. The sat shot shows that the cloud cover is still with us...and not moving. Oh...as of this morning...no emails...gooooood. 1544hrs. Just back...having gotten a call from Jutka...asking if I wanted to go shopping with her...yes. Once on the other side of the lake...I saw kids out on the ice...playing hockey. I guess it’s thick enough! I’m on notice to be at Jutka’s tomorrow at 1000hrs...she’ll pick me up if need be. It will! Too bloody cold. I’ll give up some independence...by not going by bike...though I should see about my car...as in gaining access to it. Reminder for another story...John and the boat... Well it’s like this...I feel like Mike Hammer...or the rest of the crew in NCIS...vis-a-vis the sightings...except in my case it’s not a woman...but THAT dog...you know the one. I’m out there and I see what I think to be the dog...and then it tripped one of two security lights that they’ve put up at the Boathouse house...and a bit later the other one. It’s still hard to make out...but it was...kinda white...as in nonwhite...white. I was too lazy to grab a pair of binoculars...which if you think about it...it’s not a pair...is it? It’s just binoculars...it already means two. It’s the same with the often said and written...”Diametrically opposed”...I know it sounds ok and right...but as I understand it...you don’t need the “opposed!” Diametrical means the opposite side...as in a line drawn across a circle...it’s diameter is as far apart as you can get on a circle. Coming up on 40K words...117 pages. And another story or two...the day I nearly bought the farm...and the day I died. 1936hrs...a minus 4.6°C. There is some wind also. I don’t fell like writing...as in all day. The heater has brought the room temp up to 19°C...which is just making it. Oh...the bathroom light is out. I wonder if there are any spares hiding somewhere? Istvan has not replaced the porch lamp! I still think he put in a used bulb to begin with. A bit later...done deal. The first bulb I found failed in transport. The next two I looked at were DOA...I finally took the one by the stove in the kitchen. And there were no spares visible. The bathroom light is my night light for hall and kitchen. Coming up on 2000hrs...I think I’ll pull the plug. Remember kids...same Bat Channel...same Bat Time... STOOAC Velence...December 23rd 2007. 0920hrs...Have done coffee, the shower and I wait to call Jutka. The temps are hanging in at around the same figures...NBD...but I’m not up for biking over...not the car I think...Too much of a hassle to get it out and then later back in. 0956hrs...called Jutka...coming. It’s a minus 4.7°C. Well damn! 1650hrs. Just got back about 10 mins ago. As I came to the drive leading onto the property...who should be right behind my but Istvan and his bike! Starts to tell me how it was when he was going to wherever he had gone...that he called into the house thinking that I was here...And why would he think that I was here...I hear you ask? Because both balcony doors were open...That’s why! Oh...I hear you exclaim. See...it was like this...Just before 1000hrs...I called Jutka as per above. Ok...fine. I put on my winter coat...camera...gloves...extra smokes...all set...lock the balcony doors...and wait for Jutka to show. I stand by the window...in anticipation of her arrival...knowing that she will honk her horn anyway. Time passes and I get antsy...Unlock the doors...step out...light up...and take a photo or two. THEN...and there is always a “then”...the phone rings...Back inside...answer phone. It’s Jutka...she can not make it because of the ice on the roads. Now we are in plan B mode. Pissed...I simply walked out of the house...and start the long walk to her place. Sure as hell...the road is in fact treacherous....treacherous I say! Almost immediately I was set to work...grinding poppy seeds. This would be the first use of a new grinder that I had bought her months ago...anyway at one point I counted the number of turns to empty the smallish funnel into which said poppy seeds were placed prior to actual grinding. It turned out to be...pardon the pun...175 turns. I must have done at least ten reps. Then it was the walnuts...more grinding...different grinder. All this for a Hungarian Xmas pastry. Then!...it was setting up the Xmas tree. Here I am...unable to get away from dealing with Xmas trees. For all the time I lived in the states...not once did I have to deal with it...But get to UK Land...and now here in HU Land guess WHAT? Hated it! Did a nice job nonetheless. I think it took me less than a hour. So here I am heating the house again. Though the temps are higher than when I’d left this morning. AND...I am to go back for dinner tomorrow at 1800hrs! Gads! Then the next day it’s lunch at Cila’s...but at least that is just a stones throw. Yawn! After play a few rousing games of Solitaire...I’ve decided that I’m "powerful hungry". 1806hrs...Jutka called to see if I got home in one piece...told her I did if you don’t count two broken legs. Have done the web. Gads...I now see that Wally Schirra died back in May of this year...as it was...on my birthday...the 3rd...at 84 plus. The last and only time I saw Wally was back in March of ‘66...as part of the team that came to Okinawa for the recovered Gemini 8 astronauts. He is in the photo I shot that made the front page of The Morning Star newspaper. Keep looking down ..buddy. 2000hrs...Signing off...for now. Velence...December 24th 2007. 0529hrs...Up since 0500. Doing coffee. Overcast. Minus 2°C. 1022hrs...Just offline...I’m sure it’s nothing...but I sent greetings to Bill and Mary Lou...last night...and have not heard back. Caught Istvan heading out...store and Mom’s. Oh...Yesterday...Jutka showed me some of the presents that “I” bought for the family. 1124hrs...The temperature is rising some...but there is snow in the forecast. I can’t say that I look forward to dinner tonight at Jutka’s. 1800hrs is just too late. Ildiko will be there also. I have been thinking about some of my detractors...Yes I do have some. One pair come to mind. Brothers they are. The last time I saw one...and got a call from the other was on the occasion of the OM’s remembrance service...back in 2004. The younger one...the sniveling pudgy little bastard...had the unmitigated gall to call me up...to say that I “was more full of it than his brother.” This observation came about as a result of having read...I presume...into my web pages. How many pages...he actually read before the call is unknown to me. What prompted the remark...specifically...is also unknown. I have stated more that once that ALL the stories that I’ve written are true. All the facts are correct...dates...places...events etc. On the other hand I remember them as being shit stirrers when they were young...so I guess it’s in their genes...huh? And what's that about the acorn not falling far from the tree? The older one attended the remembrance...and it was there that he made a comment...the punch line of which came out of his mouth...as he turned his back to me. I can only guess that he didn’t have the guts to say it to my face. The comment was just another example of unadulterated shit stirring. He must have climaxed...right there and then. They both took the occasion of what a normal person would consider as solemn...to get in a "dig". A real pair of deuces. The older one came by the house a number of times...which I found unusual...given that we were not exactly friends...so I must assume that he had hatched some sort of shit stirring event. The fact that he came back again and again tells me that he was really hot to do it...what ever it was. Thinking about it...why was he not at home with his wife and family? Oh...it seemed that he always wanted me to leave with him...as going out for lunch...as opposed to just sitting down to talk. As it was...I was always engaged...and twice my friend Greg was there...and we'd already done lunch. What was it with going out? Had he set something up? It’s an interesting problem...as to how does one convince another of the validity of...anything...IF the other person is congenitally bent to disbelieve whatever is presented as being true? A case in point. “A” did not believe that the Pilots Logbook that I had floating around the house...was in fact mine. She based this on one fact...that my (a) photograph was not affixed to the place provided. True enough. BUT...and there is always a “BUT”...The fact that if I really wanted to deceive someone...and thought that it really mattered...would I not have placed a photo into the logbook at the place provided...in the first place? Huh? Duh! This is just another example of incorrect...illogical...limited thinking...or more correctly...not really thinking at all...based on only one fact...but not going further. Of course that would mean having to go deeper into the matter...and having a higher level of understating...about something which she knows nothing. Condemned...for lack of knowledge. So...if the logbook is NOT mine...than whose was/is it? If it’s not mine...then I submit that I must have...1) Fabricated it...and like a idiot...forgot to include the photo...2) I had stolen it from the rightful owner. Well let’s see...Number one is possible. But...here we go again...to what end? It will be clear later on. Number two...So I had stolen the log book...REMOVED the photo that HAD been there...AND removed ALL traces of anything ever having been there! That space is virgin paper! I'm not sure as fact...but I would not be supprised that had a photo been afixed to said place...that it would also have been embossed with a stamp...rendering it a forgery if altered. Lets look at the facts...Now...a careful examination of the log entries would show...to anyone unbiased and knowledgeable...the sequence of events gleaned from the entries. I don’t have the logbook at hand...so this is from memory...First entry...The airport code...is Boeing International...Seattle. And the date was...subject to finding the logbook...sometime in 1962. I was given the logbook as part of a flight that I took...with the OM. A flight over the city...I don’t actually remember where we went. They...the flight service GIVES you the book...even though you may have had only a few minutes...of “actually flying the aircraft?” AND logs it in the book...for you to keep...and I suppose perhaps gaining a student pilot as a result. The log entry is for one hour of flight...of which as I stated...I was allowed to put my hands on the “stick” for only a few minutes. This is all normal stuff with the flight service providers. NBD. It really means nothing. Now we get to the rest of the entries. When I thought about taking flight lessons...I asked that my (the) logbook be sent to me from Seattle...to Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. It really would have made no difference one way or the other...since I would have been provided with a new one. But...since I had it...I used it. Back to the rest of the entries...All the entries were made at Gulfport, Mississippi...airport...and that was the code entered. So...If I had stolen the logbook...it was very fortuitous that the “real pilot” had taken HIS first flight in Seattle...back in ‘62...and the remaining flights right there at Gulfport...at exactly the same time that I was there...precisely...in as much as the last entry coincides was my last days there at Keesler AFB. The logbook shows that I never got to actually fly solo. It was scheduled...but the weather was not conducive...hence my last flight was still with my instructor. The logbook...was at that stage nothing more than a record of what I’d done up to that point...it was NOT a document that I could use to say...gain access to an aircraft...at some other location...for the sake of argument...back in Seattle. I was NOT a certified pilot...HENCE there was no need for a photo! And using non-thinking logic...what photo should I have placed in the logbook...in light of the fact that at the time of my first flight...I was 18? Had I done so...then THAT would be the issue would it not...as in...”see...that photo was taken when you were a kid in high school!” You can’t win! So...if someone “has it out for you”...then there is no limit to the weird and contorted...non-thinking...vitriolic words that spew forth. Such is the reality. 2118hrs...Well hells bells...I managed to get back...BUT...you know the drill...it was not without tribulation. Imre had called...and at one point I was asked to say a few words...and we ended up talking about stocks...which killed time like nothing else...and then I noticed the time...and I knew I wanted to get going...like right now. WELL...both Jutka and Ildiko...mostly Jutka...wanted to know why...and could I not stay another ten mins...to which I said no. Jutka was put out...Ildiko saw reason...and I left. Well shit! The program that I left to watch...is not on! Superseded by some movie! Win some...lose some. Not a happy camper. 2240hrs...Just in...and guess what...I could see the moon...for the first time in weeks...a full moon at that...albeit through high clouds. Oh...forgot to mention that Jutka had called within twenty minutes of the time that I planed to leave...and she hits me with...sit down for this...That I was NOT to leave out...as in hanging...any wash. I do a mental double take...at which point she asks if I understood what she’d said...to which I answer in the affirmative...but volunteer that though I understood the string of words...the meaning was...let’s say cloudy. She goes on to tell me...that to do so mean that there will be a death...so DON‘T leave out drying wash. Okkkkkkkk! My mind was running in overdrive...GADS...I had just taken a shower...leaving logically wet towels...which I normally would hang out to dry. NOT this time! Velence...December 25th 2007. 0852hrs..Up for about an hour. Coffee... Not sure when I’m supposed to go over to Cila’s for lunch...will call to find out. So...as I wrote above...I went through the hassle of finding a good bulb...But failed then to complete the story...Well the second time I turn on the switch...the light did not work. Well...NOW it works. 0929hrs...Called Cila...Istvan answered...Asked Cila what time I should arrive...but I think I was given when we would eat...and of course I was given the time in the unique Hungarian format...WHICH...and there is always...a which...I still don’t have down pat...but I think it will be 1330hrs. The words translate...as “Half one”...What could be simpler? Well not for this kid! Anyway I have plenty of time to kill. 67 seconds...11098 points...a close second best... 1020hrs...Have topped out the flash drive. Added two shots of Niki...and some that I had missed. All set. Stepped out...and spotted a bird of prey...as it landed on one of the newly installed lamp post...near the guard shed...next to the Boathouse house. Anyway...drug out the MTO 1000...fired of a few frames. Velence...December 26th 2007. 1100hrs...Up since 0900...didn’t get back until 2300hrsish...and didn’t crash until after midnight. Shot some 200 frames and loaded then into the laptop...and it was multiple show and tells...as various groups took a look. Also had the past years anthology of shots. Everyone seemed to like them well enough. I have an invitation for lunch today at Sari/Bela’s. I had loaded the frames onto this computer last night...and this morning have been sorting through them...chucked some. The frames are now also on the external drive. Oh...Major problem...in as much as there are more frames than will fit onto a CD...But...it looks like I will have to put them on two Cds...So I will use the extra space with other shots. 1839hrs...Got back about 15 mins ago...Came back with Cila and Istvan...they showed up too...and I left with them. Forgot the DVDs...that I was to use to load my photos onto. Tonight should be HOUSE night...but after Mondays fiasco...as in no NCIS...I can’t be sure. I hope to rest tomorrow. 1912hrs...Going to go online...see what’s happening in the world...The last time I was online was two days ago...so. 1940hrs...done deal. “H” is not on for an other hour plus...not sure I will be awake...at that time. It’s been a hectic week...I had to look at a calendar to see what day it was. STOOAC Velence...December 27th 2007. 0510hrs...Up at 0500...doing coffee. The temps are still below freezing...still cloudy...though no new snow since the last time it snowed. Never did watch H. On the way back with Cila and Istvan...who should we run into...but Jutka...and it really was surprise...just as we turned onto Kemping Street. She must have been on Kemping(!)...but where...and why? She denied having stopped at Cila’s...when asked by Istvan...but it would have been easier to have taken the High Street...not Kemping...unless...and there is always an unless...she was looking for me at this house. She may not have known that I was at Bele’s. Agnes (Tuba)...dropped in...and two other relatives...so why not Jutka? Agnes is my next door neighbor to the west...by the way. Of the two others that I mentioned...one can read English...and I gave her the second to the last card that I had on me...so will need to make some more. As I said...I think Jutka is stilled pissed off at me for dragging up the other night...though she alluded that it was Ildiko who was pissed off. Can’t win! I’d like to tell her that she’s not my mother...nor wife...so cool it! She can be such busybody. I also mentioned the CD/DVD...situation...It turns out that I have the same exact DVDs that I had forgotten to bring along last night. On mine...the nomenclature was coved by a stick-on label which I was able to remove...and there it was...4.7GB...same as the other ones. However there is still the question as to whether that is the true capacity...re...photos. 1034hrs...Saw that bird of prey again...off in the distance. And Swans are out on the ice. Speaking of which...one of the girls went ice skating on the lake yesterday. Just in...saw my first ice walker...He may have been checking out the reeds...subsequent to cutting it down. 1426...Just in from being out...Spotted two bobbing heads...and then when I could see the bodies...Gads!...it’s Jutka with someone else...I wonder as to where they are going/coming...and was glad to see them pass right by...on their way to who knows where. That was close. I was and am still in a bathrobe. Postdated: It turns out that Jutka was visiting her deceased son’s...at the time...girlfriend...She lives farther to the west hence seeing her on Kemping. Spent sometime online. Velence...December 28th 2007. 0755hrs...The crummy weather continues...And I am beginning to hate it. If this is the way it’s going to be...I will surely be an unhappy camper. So far it’s been a blisteringly hot summer...and now an arctic winter. The forecast is for more of the same. 1129hrs...Just in...and it feels colder than the minus 2.6°C...showing. Saw the bird of prey again...one ice skater...two yesterday...on the other side of the lake. Too dark for a shot. Was thinking about going to the far store...for bread mostly...but as of now it’s not that high on my list...PLUS...it’s bloody cold. Have been online...looked at number if items. Breck girls...Gemini 8...and R1a1 stuff. The news out of Pakistan is a real piece of shit. No emails...There will be one from “A” one of these days. If she thinks that she’s waiting for me to answer her last one...think again! Cila had called yesterday asking if I wanted to go with them to Jutka’s...I said no thanks. Then later...caught them...Cila, Istvan and Pityu coming back. I had called Jutka to find out what Jimmy was whining on about...Turns out he does that every time they leave the compound...and since they came this way...Jimmy was at the closest gate...howling. I talked back a few times. Don’t know if it helped or not. 1437hrs...The chill goes on. Hate it! I have no inspiration to work on the 200 some odd photos taken the other day. I think it’s because I don’t think that they will all fit on the DVD...hence it will take more...While if the DVD really does have 4.7GBs then I could put not only those...but many others as well. Ernesto...playing his little heart out... 1840hrs...Have done dinner. The last three time out...I thought I felt...what must have been a snow flake. One more holiday the get through...New Years! I have not heard as to what they do that night. And hence whatever it is...where? I will truly need to shopping tomorrow...so get a grip Tuba! Thinking about going online...mmmm...I will later... Another true story: The year would have been...mmmm...1967-68ish. I had driven out to our summer house on Lake Tapps. The lake is some 60 miles south of Seattle...and close to Sumner. Anyway...I don’t now remember why. The car was a Pontiac...but the model year escapes me...’56 maybe close. I do whatever I was there for...and began to head for home...as the sun began to set. I had driven down the long winding road that would eventually end on the East Valley Highway...where I would turn right...heading north. There were a number of landmarks along the way...that one would tick off as it was passed. The first one was the bridge that crossed the outflow of the electric power generating plant up on the east side of the hill that I’d just come down from. I no sooner crossed the bridge when the steering went a bit crazy...and I pulled over onto the shoulder...and stopped...knowing that I had a flat tire on my hands. I get out and pop the trunk. I did the next logical thing...only to discover that my spare was flat also. Now boys and girls...this was at a time...long ago...and there was no such thing as a cellular phone. In fact...the phone used a rotary dialer...where you put your finger into one of a number of holes...which were labeled with letters and a number...and you then pulled it around...and then let go...I know that it sound very complicated...to then doing it again for as many numbers that needed to be dialed. So it was now down to finding a phone. I knew that there was nothing like a gas station...within any reasonable distance. This area was mostly farm land...and there were no houses along the Valley Highway. I remember seeing every time on the inbound trip what looked to be an old motel. All the building were a nondescript dark brown. I never really took a close look for all the time that we had driven past. But...it was my first and only hope for finding a phone nearby. So...off I trudged...the relatively short distance of perhaps a few hundred yards. The place looked run down...and probably no longer doing business. I found a door that looked to be my best bet...and...in the interest of accuracy...I don’t remember if it had a working bell or not...Needless to say...someone eventually answered the door...and after I described my problem...was let inside. GADS!...I was in a time machine. Not only were the buildings painted brown...so was the interior. So was the old couch...the old oval picture frame which contained a old faded photograph of an old faded man...probable a relative of the old faded man sitting in an old brown stuffed armchair. Even the air was brown...the light was brown. I confess that the old couple intrigues me even to this day. Time seemed to have stopped for them years ago. There had been two ways south from Seattle...Renton...etc...and they were the two valley roads...one on the east side and the other one on the west side of the valley. Then came the freeway...which spelled doom for the motels like the one that I had entered. Now...the kind old couple let me use their phone...and I dialed mission control...Seattle...we have a problem! My sister answered. Not a good omen...but you have to work with what you’ve got. I tell her of my predicament...Well it went down hill from there. The OM...and the OL...were out on Lake Washington...with the neighbors. AND it was not known when they would return. The only fact that was in my favor was that the sun was setting and I would have to assume that they would not want to be out there in the dark. So...there was nothing for it but to leave her with a phone number and have the OM call when they got back. It was now that I had a chance to notice all the little details of the room and the old couple...while I waited for the call. Scene change. The setting is the boat...our 16 foot speed boat...out on the lake...heading for the locks...which is as far as one can go short of going through them...which was not planed. The occupants are as noted above. At some point...I now don’t remember...but I think it was on the outbound portion of their trip...that...wait for it(!)...the wooden block that held the gear shift lever and throttle...came off...hanging by the cables that went to the motor. It was still possible to control the boat...but as you can imagine...a real pain. So...when they ultimately head for home...it was at reduced speed...delaying them all the more. I continued to wait...with the old couple...for what might have been the most excitement they had experienced in a long while. Waited some more. Time dragged. Then at last the phone rang. It was for me...which probably was not a surprise for them. I talk to the OM...and he says that he will come...ASAP...(I came up with this when I was visiting my friend Bill...re ASAP. So I say...”That you realize that it would be ISOP today“...to which he says...”You’d have to be photographer to know that”...) Anyway...I now thanked the old couple...and headed back to my car...and waited some more. I knew that it would be at least an hours wait. And so it was. He was accompanied by the neighbor. And a plan quickly developed...after it was determined that the OM’s spare would not fit my car. With the flat removed they would take it into Renton and get it fixed. As I seem to remember...they returned with a brand new tire...on my wheel. The next steps were straight forward and logical. Done deal...we take off...heading north on the east valley road. There was one major mistake...or I should say that it would so develop. They...the OM and neighbor...led the way...and I follow. All is going well enough...when all of a sudden...I feel the steering go a bit weird...again...but this time it feels like the front tire...AND...sit down for this...I have a fire in the cockpit. I pull over for the second time...and stop...with blue smoke coming out from under the dashboard. It never occurred to me that I was for all practical purposes in the same situation as before...except that the rescue party was long gone...heading for home. WELL...at some point I guess they asked themselves if I was still behind them...and not finding me...came to the conclusion...rightfully...that something had detained me. Now! The East Valley Road was a split road...one for north bound and one for south bound traffic. Hence it was not possible to know for sure if one car wouldn’t pass the other. But...as it was...they turned around...and with eyes peeled...headed south...hoping to find me...but of course with no idea where...that would be. There was one other problem...and that was the fact that there were only a few places where it was possible to gain access to the opposite heading road. Nonetheless...they managed to find me. And again...took the flat...back into Renton...to which we were much closer now...and had the second flat fixed. Then the same deal of having to drive past me to the nearest point at which it was possible to cross over...and back again to me. I may have mentioned the fire and smoke...but once I started the car...it never returned. Needless to say...this time I led the way. To this day I still have an image in my mind of the oval picture hanging on the wall over the old brown couch...Life in perpetual sepia. 2106hrs...It’s a minus 2.6°C...with a wind out of the west. STOOAC Velence...December 29th 2007. 0744hrs...Up since before 0700...Temps about the same...with stronger winds out of the west. Debating going to the far store...what with the wind...though it would be a tail wind going...a head wind on the way back. Not fun either way. 1228hrs...It’s been another slow day. Did manage to clear the disaster area in the kitchen. TA started this morning...and continues. Pissed. Have tried to kill it with Hungarian paint remover. Third hit so far. It doesn’t last long. Smokes are not critical...so I’ve not gone shopping. 1328hrs...The last time I was out...I saw a kite weaving back and forth...though I was not able to see the attached skater. Oh...pissed off. Broke yet another coffee makers pot...can’t believe the poor quality. 2038hrs...Damn...I can’t get over how bloody cold it is out there. Minus 3.4°C. It’s got to be the wind chill factor. STOOAC...at 2104hrs. Velence...December 30th 2007. 0816hrs...Minus 4.7°C...Up since 0800...though I was also up around 0230...and hungry. So I had something to eat...with Coke. 1103hrs...Have been online...and for whatever reason...I did a GS on “Charles Dose.” I have done this before...but it never hurts to do it again. Well...I found a site that was in fact new for me...And therein were a number of photographs that I’d not seen before. Actually I was searching for Charles P. Dose. To cut to the chase...Charles C. Dose was the son...an architect...and it turns out that the Pride house...was in fact his. The 1914 photo shows that the eastern façade looked very different from the way it looked when we got there in 1953. Originally there were a number of smaller window...grouped together...but by 1953...there was one huge plate glass window with some of the smaller one gone altogether. There were photos of John Muir school...and Franklin High also...all very interesting. I tried to print the PDF file...without luck...hence I’m now waiting for the latest version of Abode Acrobat to load. I didn’t bother to read the entire document online...Hope I can print it! It worked! 53 pages... 1221hrs...Jutka called about 5 mins ago...shopping...yes...½ hr...ok...! 1343hrs...NOT. The bloody store went closed just as we were about to enter. Jutka went into the other store. It’s now set for another try tomorrow at 1030hrs. Ok. 2119hrs...Reading the PDF...interesting stuff...I’ll write about it tomorrow. STOOAC...You know the drill... Velence...December 31st 2007. 0643hrs...Up since 0600...It’s foggy this morning....temps about the same. Had a dream about the rings. It was just a flash. 0838hrs...The fog has lifted some...and it’s now trying to snow. There is an injured cat across the way...hunting for mice. Hind leg. 0913hrs...Just out of the shower...the cat continues to hunt...the snow has picked up...and is now visible on the street...though powdery. Continue to read...the history of the Mount Baker area. 1004hrs...called Jutka...re snow...will show up at 1100hrs. Ok. 1026hrs...Finished reading. Found two errors. Snow continues. It turns out that the Mount Baker area was not a “middle class” neighborhood as stated in the caption to the photograph taken in 1924 by Curtis. It was in fact much more than that. 1105hrs...Waiting for Jutka to arrive...and or call. She may well cancel because of the snow. It’s still coming down. I don’t see that cat...hope it caught a mouse. 1209hrs...Just back...She did arrive...Nearly spun out at one point. Took some photos from here...of skaters on the lake...with the 300 2 8 ISO 800. Oh...there are no plans afoot for this evening. That’s good news if you ask me. Though Jutka said that I was welcome to spend it with her. I’ll pass. 1324hrs...Have had lunch. 1702hrs...Help me Rhonda...help me Rhonda...loud. Sloop John B...Singing along...with an effected lisp...try it some time. It’s stopped snowing. There is a guy out there ice fishing...cool. Drinking the last of the Fuller wine from the Tuba Cellar. One glass. I now have more to drink...as far as variety...I got them as Xmas presents. About six hour left of 2007. Not sure what 2008 will bring. Got the copy of the WC that I needed to complete my application for HU citizenship. This weather is not to my liking at all...Though I will get a chance to see the rest of the seasons. When I was here in April was it(?)...there were days when I would head back home (Jutka’s)...because the sun was getting too hot....and that was well before the days...when I would not go out at all. Now it’s the opposite...too cold...and no light to speak of. Then there is an up coming wedding...Dora...(one of Sari/Bele’s girls) in July. Don’t really look forward to it...having the dress up as it were...and it will be hot...if like last year...this year. They are looking at some 200 plus guests. And I have yet to attack the frames of the year...and then some. Tonight would normally be NCIS...but with it being NYE...I’m not sure what will be on. You’d think that since there are only two programs that I watch...NCIS and House...a week...that they could accommodate me...no? I am seeing ads for House...so I guess Wednesday is on. There are so many loose ends that I just don’t have the energy to tackle. I don’t know if I can put it all together. I mean...I am living...but not a life. Start of a new feature...My favorite scenes from movies (FSFM). The films is “In Harms Way”...Pearle Harbor has been bombed...and the Admirals staff is gathered and looking at a map...and is just being given a rundown of the ships that have survived...when he cuts it off...and says...“...The battleships man?!...The battleships?!” The next scene...is when John Wayne’s character is promoted to Admiral...by Henry Fonda’s character...and is given the situation...and how he will be technically under this other Admiral’s command...but that he is to get on with winning the war...and JW’s character asks as to the limits he is to work under...re the other Admiral...to which HF’s character says...”...Well...you can’t kill him...” Then of course there is the scene when the Admiral show up to get briefed on the operation...(Apple Pie) which unbeknownst to him is not only well ahead of schedule...but a complete success...starts to tell the press “boys”...that...And I paraphrase...”...well boys...it’s going to be a hard uphill battle....etc...blah...blah...”...when he is cut off by JW’s character...and asks if he...would he like to get a private briefing...but is overridden...to go ahead and tell...boys...and when he does so...and indicates that in fact the operation is just a matter of mopping up...the Admiral...cuts the briefing short...”That will be all...boys...” GOTCHA! JW...Maggie?! 2032hrs...It doesn’t look good...re NCIS. Well...this will be my last entry for this year. Last year at this time I was with Bill and Mary Lou in Oregon, USA.
Continued: STBlog2008
Copyright © Steve Tuba 2003-2010. Photography Copyright © Steve Tuba 1999-2010. |